The Act started life as the Renters (Reform) Bill in May 2023 and finally made it onto the statute books on 27th October 2025. This is the biggest piece of legislation to affect the rental sector since the Housing Act 1988, and introduces many changes documented in 270 pages. We have been following the passage […]

1. If it needs it, upgrade your property to ensure it will meet the Decent Homes Standard: Doing this may involve more investment, but you can’t expect to make money without putting money in. In some cases, there may be funds available for upgrades. 2. Be rigorous about the way you select your tenants. The last […]

Myth 1: All evictions are banned under the Act. Fact: The Act abolishes possession without a reason (known as a ground), but evictions are not banned. The Act once fully implemented, will establish a total of 37 specific grounds for possession available to landlords under Section 8 of the Housing Act 1988 e.g., rent arrears, landlord selling […]

The agreement to, and payment of, a holding deposit creates a legally binding contract between the landlord (or his agent) and the prospective tenant. The contract is commonly called a holding deposit agreement, sometimes referred to as a HDA. A HDA is a conditional contract, which grants the prospective tenant both the right and obligation […]

On 7th September 2023 the UK government issued guidance on damp and mould in rented accommodation. The guidance is 56 pages long, not including linked references, and there are 185 occurrences of the word ‘landlord’. This article provides a summary of what it is landlords should be doing regarding damp and mould in their properties. […]