Renters’ Rights Act Landlords: 5 Essential Changes to Know
Renters’ Rights Act landlords are facing significant changes to the way they manage tenancies and regain possession of their properties, with new research suggesting that one in four landlords has already experienced difficulties dealing with problem tenants.
A recent survey of nearly 250 landlords found that 25% had faced challenges regaining possession since the abolition of Section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions on 1 May. Under the new system, landlords seeking possession must rely on Section 8 and demonstrate that one of the specified legal grounds applies.
The changes represent a major shift for the private rented sector and mean that landlords need to pay even greater attention to tenant selection, referencing, compliance and tenancy management from the outset.
Renters’ Rights Act Landlords Are Tightening Tenant Checks
One of the clearest responses to the reforms has been an increased focus on tenant vetting.
Around 39% of landlords surveyed said they are now taking a more cautious approach when selecting tenants, while 9% are investing more in retaining reliable existing tenants to reduce unnecessary turnover.
This comes at a time when tenancy application fraud is already a significant concern for the private rented sector. Industry research estimates that fraudulent tenancy applications could be responsible for approximately £4.1 billion in financial losses each year.
Between July 2025 and June 2026, around 41 tenancy applications per 1,000 were reportedly flagged for suspected fraud.
For Renters’ Rights Act landlords, comprehensive referencing, affordability checks and verification of information provided by prospective tenants are therefore becoming increasingly important. With fewer options available to quickly resolve a tenancy that goes wrong, getting the tenant selection process right from the beginning can significantly reduce future risks.
Possession Proceedings Can Take Longer
The possession process is another major concern for landlords following the reforms.
Landlords relying on rent arrears grounds must now wait four weeks after serving a Section 8 notice before court proceedings can begin, twice the previous notice period.
That notice period is only part of the potential waiting time. Existing pressures within the court system can extend possession proceedings further, meaning landlords may continue to face financial losses while waiting for a claim to be heard.
For landlords dealing with significant rent arrears or serious tenancy problems, additional delays can have a substantial financial impact, particularly where mortgage payments, maintenance costs, insurance and other property expenses must continue to be paid.
Compliance and Landlord Costs Are Increasing
The reforms are not only affecting possession. Many landlords are also reporting increased costs and administrative responsibilities.
Half of those surveyed said the Renters’ Rights Act had increased their compliance burden, while 29% reported higher compliance and insurance costs.
Since the reforms came into effect on 1 May, 23% of landlords surveyed said letting agent fees had increased, while 10% reported experiencing longer void periods between tenancies.
These additional pressures mean Renters’ Rights Act landlords need to ensure they understand their responsibilities and maintain accurate documentation throughout every tenancy.
Keeping tenancy records, safety certificates, prescribed information, inspection records and communication with tenants properly organised can become particularly important if a landlord later needs to demonstrate compliance or begin possession proceedings.
What Does This Mean for Landlords?
The removal of Section 21 has changed the way landlords need to approach risk within the private rented sector.
A separate survey involving more than 2,000 tenants found that only 5% said they had been served with or threatened with a ‘Section 21-style’ eviction since the ban was introduced. This suggests that the majority of landlords are adapting to the new requirements.
However, prevention is becoming increasingly important.
For Renters’ Rights Act landlords, careful tenant selection, thorough referencing, strong tenancy management and ongoing compliance can help reduce the likelihood of problems developing later.
With possession potentially becoming more complex, costly and time-consuming, landlords should ensure their properties and tenancy procedures remain compliant throughout the entire letting process.
At Anthea Lettings, we continue to support landlords with professional tenant referencing, lettings and property management, helping landlords navigate the changing regulatory environment while protecting their properties and investments.
