Welcome to our first newsletter of 2026. We hope you and yours had a safe and happy holiday period.
In December, councils across the country were granted new investigatory powers to help enforce the incoming Renters’ Rights Act (RRA) legislation. We’ll be taking a look at what these new powers are and how they’ll affect you.
In other news, our friends at Goodlord have released their PRS predictions for 2026, and we’ll run through the current RRA implementation timeline.
English councils granted new investigatory powers
On December 27, while most of the country was finishing off their mince pies, the Government introduced new investigatory powers for local councils in England. These powers, along with a legal obligation to enforce the Renters’ Rights Act legislation, are intended to give councils the tools they need to tackle rogue agencies and landlords.
Local authorities will now be able to obtain relevant information from landlords and agents. They can now also require relevant parties (accounts, banks, Proptech businesses like Goodlord, etc.) to provide documents and other pieces of evidence if the council suspects a breach of housing legislation.
In a move to support enforcement officers on the ground, Councils will also be allowed to enter businesses and properties to investigate breaches. In a major shift, investigators will be able to conduct their enquiries with or without warrants.
As your agent, compliance is at the core of our services. We can help you implement the checks and maintenance schedules your properties need to stay on the right side of the law.
With our help, we will ensure you never receive a knock on your door from the council.
Goodlord publishes its predictions for the PRS in 2026
With the first implementation stage of the Renters’ Rights Act in sight, 2026 will be one of the most significant years in our industry’s history. With that in mind, our friends over at Goodlord have released their 2026 PRS predictions.
Featuring expert insight from the Goodlord leadership team, these predictions are a good indication of what we might expect from 2026 as we move ever-closer to the first round of implementation on May 1.
Topics include the 2026 market outlook, how the industry might change, compliance and regulation, and how letting agents, landlords, and tenants should approach the new legislation.
You can find the full predictions here.
New Year, new rules: Preparing for the first phase of the Renters’ Rights Act
2026 is here, which means we are less than 4 months away from the implementation of the first phase of the Renters’ Rights Act.
Before the May 1 implementation day, the Government will issue guidance on what must be included in new tenancy agreements. In March, the Government will release an informational RRA leaflet that must be issued to existing tenants by May 31. You can learn more about what is expected of private landlords here.
From that date, all existing and new Assured Shorthold Tenancies (ASTs) will automatically move to the new periodic tenancy system, and Section 21 will be abolished. This means you’ll no longer be able to use “no-fault” eviction notices, and instead, any possession claims will need to be made using the updated Section 8 grounds.
What does this mean for you? In short, now is the time to prepare. Over the coming months, we’ll be working with our landlords to:
- Review and update tenancy agreements
- Make sure your properties and paperwork are fully compliant
- Explain how the new possession process works in practice
- Help you plan ahead for tenancies under the new system
We’ll be in touch to discuss what this means for your portfolio and what steps you should be taking now, and of course, we’ll be here to guide you through the changes every step of the way.