Course description

If you let a home in England, the Renters' Rights Act 2025 has changed the rules you work under. Fixed terms and section 21 notices have gone, rent increases follow one process, and a national register of landlords and rented homes opens region by region from December 2026. This course explains what changed, what you need to do now and how to set up simple habits that keep you compliant.

It's written for private landlords, especially those with one or a few homes and those who became landlords by accident, such as by inheriting a house. You learn how the new assured periodic tenancies work, what paperwork your tenants need, how to advertise and choose tenants fairly, how to handle deposits, safety checks and repairs, and how to raise the rent with Form 4A. You learn how possession works now, with grounds, notice periods and Form 3A, and what never to do. You also learn how to deal with pet requests, prepare for the register, and build a records system, a yearly calendar and a compliance plan of your own.

There are 10 sections and 50 written lessons, each with a worked example, common slips, questions people often ask and a short exercise to try, and each section ends with a short quiz. You follow three made-up landlords: Silke, who inherited a house in Shrewsbury; Nigel, who lets three flats in Bristol; and Adeel, who lets a shared house to students in Stoke-on-Trent. Every section has a practice pack with a worksheet, example answers, a cheat sheet and worked scenarios, plus checklists, logs and worksheets such as a timeline of changes, a rent increase worksheet, a possession grounds summary card, a registration checklist, a property records log and a compliance calendar.

What you'll learn

• The Act and where you stand: what the Renters' Rights Act 2025 changed and when, which tenancies the rules cover, your old and new duties side by side, and an audit of your own letting.
• Tenancies after 1 May 2026: assured periodic tenancies with no end date, written information for new tenants, the Information Sheet for existing tenancies, what to change in your agreement, and when a tenant wants to leave.
• Finding and choosing tenants fairly: advertising an asking rent, no rental bidding, no discrimination against families or people on benefits, referencing, right to rent checks, holding deposits and rent in advance.
• Deposits and payments: protecting a deposit within 30 days, the payments you can and can't charge, check-in records, returning deposits and why deposit mistakes can block possession.
• Safety, standards and repairs: gas safety records, electrical reports, smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, EPCs, repairs and hazards, and the planned changes for damp and mould and housing standards.
• Rent and rent increases: setting the rent and when it's due, the section 13 process and Form 4A, working out a fair increase, tribunal challenges, and early steps on arrears.
• The grounds for possession: how ending a tenancy works now, moving in or selling, the rent arrears grounds, other grounds you may meet, and choosing grounds and gathering evidence.
• Notices, court and difficult situations: completing and serving Form 3A, notice periods, antisocial behaviour, what happens at court, and the student ground for shared houses.
• Pets, registration and complaints: pet requests and the 28 day timetable, fair and unfair refusals, the new Register your rental property service, and the planned landlord ombudsman.
• Enforcement and staying compliant: council powers and penalties, rent repayment orders, a property records system, a yearly compliance calendar and your own compliance plan.

Who it's for

Private landlords who let homes in England, whether you manage them yourself or use a letting agent, and anyone about to become a landlord. No legal knowledge is needed.

What this course is, and isn't

This is a practical explanation of the law for landlords in England, not legal advice. The dates, rules and figures were checked on GOV.UK and legislation.gov.uk on 31 October 2026, and some parts of the Act were still to come at that date, so check GOV.UK before you act. For your own situation, especially before serving a notice or going to court, speak to a solicitor or a landlord body. The rules in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are different and aren't covered. Silke, Nigel, Adeel and their tenants are fictional.

What will I learn?

• Explain what the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 changed for private landlords in England, and when each change started or is due
• Work out which of your lettings are assured periodic tenancies, and give tenants the right written information or Information Sheet
• Advertise with an asking rent, deal fairly with applicants and avoid rental bidding and discrimination against families or people on benefits
• Protect deposits on time, charge only permitted payments, and keep check-in records that support fair deductions
• Keep gas, electrical, alarm and EPC duties up to date and deal with repairs and hazards promptly
• Propose a rent increase with Form 4A, backed by evidence of open market rent, and respond calmly to a tribunal challenge
• Understand the grounds for possession, the conditions and notice periods, and how to complete and serve Form 3A
• Handle pet requests within the 28 day timetable and prepare to register on the Register your rental property service
• Know the council penalties and rent repayment orders that apply, and how to avoid them
• Set up a property records system, a yearly compliance calendar and a compliance plan of your own

Frequently asked questions