June saw the introduction of revised Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) guidelines and a new code of practice around Right to Rent checks.
Before we get to our main stories, let’s check in with the latest rental market performance data.
Rental market performance in June 2026
Here’s what happened in the English rental market last month:
- The average monthly price for a rental property rose 8.1% from £1,211 in May to £1,309 in June
- June’s average rent of £1,309 is up 6.5% compared to 2025 figures (£1,229)
- The base interest rate in the UK remained at 3.75%
Government releases updated HHSRS guidance
On June 23, the government released new guidance on the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS). These revisions update the way local authorities will assess potential health and safety hazards in rented homes across England.
The goal of this update is to ensure that landlords meet their legal duties to provide their tenants with a safe home while making inspections clearer, more consistent, and easier to carry out.
One of the biggest changes is to the assessment framework, which reduces the number of hazards from 29 to 21, groups similar risks together, and introduces clearer wording. Instead of the previous A–J hazard bands, councils will now classify hazards as High, Medium or Low.
As part of the effort to make the new guideline more enforceable, councils have been granted new financial powers under the wider rental reforms. Civil penalties of up to £7,000 can be imposed for certain breaches, with significantly higher penalties for more serious or repeat offences under existing legislation.
What these new rules should make clear is that proactive maintenance on your properties will save a lot of money and stress in the future. If you’d like to better protect yourself, please reach out to your managing agent, who will be more than happy to review your current maintenance process and ensure that it’s airtight.
Government publishes updated Right to Rent Code of Practice for landlords
On 30th June, the Government published a new code of practice for landlords and their agents under the Right to Rent scheme. While the core requirements of the scheme remain unchanged, the revised guidance introduces an important clarification for landlords and letting agents choosing to carry out digital identity checks.
The most significant update is that where a landlord or agent opts to verify a tenant’s identity digitally, the check must be completed through accredited Right to Rent digital verification service providers (RRT DVSPs). Digital identity checks are not mandatory; landlords can continue to carry out compliant manual document checks or use the Home Office’s online Right to Rent service where applicable. However, digital checks completed outside the approved framework will no longer provide a statutory excuse against a civil penalty.
Alongside the practical advice, the government laid out how landlords can carry out the checks without inadvertently falling foul of anti-discrimination laws. All Right to Rent checks should be carried out consistently for all prospective tenants, regardless of their nationality, race, or immigration status.
Our pre-tenancy processes are built around Goodlord’s compliance platform, keeping us aligned with the latest Home Office guidance. While it’s good to familiarise yourself with the latest guidelines, you can rest easier knowing that we have you covered.