Renters’ Rights Act enforcement split into breaches and offences
From 1st May 2026, enforcement of the new Renters’ Rights Act measures will be split into two categories of breaches and offences.
A local authority will be able to impose fines on you, letting agents or anyone acting on your behalf (other than a qualified legal representative) and could be given a financial penalty of up to £7,000 if you have committed one or more of the following breaches:
Claim to let the property on a fixed-term tenancy instead of a rolling tenancy – Claim to end a tenancy verbally – Require a tenancy to be ended verbally – Fail to give a tenant written notice that a specified ground might be used where this is required by law – Fail to give a written statement of terms containing the information required by regulations – Fail to give existing tenants an information sheet which tells them about changes made by the Act – Use a possession ground in a section 8 notice, ‘purported’ notice of possession or claim form when you do not reasonably believe that a possession order will be granted by the court on that ground – Try to end the tenancy using a ‘notice to quit’ or purported notice of possession.
From 1 May 2026, you could be given a financial penalty of up to £40,000 as an alternative to prosecution if you are found to have committed one or more of the following offences:
Relet or remarketed a property within the 12 month no relet and remarketing ‘restricted period’ after using statutory grounds for possession 1 or 1A, unless you took all reasonable steps not to or an exception applies
Knowingly used a ground for possession despite knowing that a court would not order possession on it, or being reckless about that, resulting in the tenant leaving within four months without an order for possession being made
Committed a breach within five years of a previous offence
Committed a breach within five years of receiving a financial penalty for a previous breach that has not been withdrawn
Continued to commit a breach for more than 28 days after receiving a financial penalty for that breach that has not been withdrawn and is not the subject of an ongoing appeal.
The above does not cover all possible breaches and offences.
Judith
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Countdown to the Renters' Rights Act deadline begins
Member Since May 2024 - Comments: 108
9:59 AM, 4th April 2026, About 5 days ago
Reply to the comment left by Reluctant Landlord at 01/04/2026 – 17:30
If you’re a member of Parliament?
Member Since August 2013 - Comments: 35
10:04 AM, 4th April 2026, About 5 days ago
Reply to the comment left by Reluctant Landlord at 02/04/2026 – 10:10
Apparently it’s 12 months from the date of issuing the notice to move out before the landlord can legally re-let if the sale has fallen through
Member Since April 2018 - Comments: 365
10:11 AM, 4th April 2026, About 5 days ago
Reply to the comment left by John Davies at 04/04/2026 – 07:42
I agree with a lot you say, but what other choice do landlords have but to vote for Reform who at least say they will support landlords. Tory’s and Labour let us down, Lib Dems have the same views about landlords as Labour and the Greens will be even worse.I would consider Restore but they don’t seem to mention anything about landlords. Reform also say they will cut a lot of waste and don’t we all know about the waste this Labour govt is responsible for. Will you get a cost of living benefit, unlikely, but rich Labour MPs have voted themselves a £3000 benefit.
Media just seem to be government mouthpieces so don’t expect any support there.
I am hoping that the Councils will not be raiding tenanted properties as suggested but it would be worth warning tenants of the probability that scammers could be impersonating the Council and to deny them entry until they speak with the landlord.
Member Since January 2015 - Comments: 1435 - Articles: 1
10:14 AM, 4th April 2026, About 5 days ago
Reply to the comment left by Tim at 01/04/2026 – 21:29
Reeves definitely needs prosecuting for her s95 Housing Act strict liability breach.
Member Since April 2018 - Comments: 365
10:27 AM, 4th April 2026, About 5 days ago
Reply to the comment left by Reluctant Landlord at 02/04/2026 – 10:10
Yes but as I said check with a letting agent for loopholes.
Member Since December 2025 - Comments: 2
11:01 AM, 4th April 2026, About 5 days ago
Reply to the comment left by Reluctant Landlord at 01/04/2026 – 17:30
Exception being: you are an MP or part of the government, everyone else will be fined.
Member Since November 2016 - Comments: 47
1:37 PM, 4th April 2026, About 5 days ago
Reply to the comment left by juliet bonnet at 04/04/2026 – 10:04
Actually the RRA does not define a re-letting delay, but it just restricts the use of the selling property ground for the first 12 months of the tenancy.
Member Since November 2019 - Comments: 150
4:40 PM, 5th April 2026, About 4 days ago
As Landlords 99% of us probably had the same objectives . We saved up and invested our Hard Earned in Property To Provide for our Retirement, Make a reasonable return on our investment. And to Provide quality Housing to Quality Tenants. Which was the Aim of the 1988 Act.
The System was successful and we were housing 20 % of all tenants millions of People.
What is the Aim of the Renters Rights Act ?
To make Tenants Homeless ? (There is all ready 290000 of them)
To reduce the availability of Properties to Rent ?
(That`s working 26% of Landlords have sold at least one property and 31% are planning to sell up)
To Raise Revenue for the Governments and Councils.
(That will work in the short term, But once these properties are sold they will be lost to the Rental Market forever, So Rentals /No Tax )
To enable Rent Dodging , House Bashing Tenants to Live rent free for a year or two why Landlords run up legal fees trying to get possession of a Property they Paid for ?
( That`s Certainly working)
Member Since February 2026 - Comments: 1
6:35 PM, 5th April 2026, About 4 days ago
The way this new landlord and tenants act is being implemented seems to have a lottery feel about it.As we all know each council is unique when it comes to enforcing laws,for example take littering one council enforces quite rigourously and another doesn’t,there’s plenty more examples I can think of but the punishments aren’t as Draconian as this one threatens to be,or will it lead to all councils using it as a cash cow or enjoying the thought of filling our overcrowded prisons with forgetful landlords?
Member Since November 2019 - Comments: 150
12:45 PM, 6th April 2026, About 3 days ago
Selective Licence arears were meant to be no more than 10% of area.
It will be a Cash Cow . We are all going to be Lambs to the Slaughter.