The Renters’ Rights Act is set to change the private rented sector in England on 1st May 2026. While the transition to a fully periodic system and the abolition of Section 21 may feel like a daunting shift for many landlords, the reality is that you don’t need to become a legal expert to stay compliant.
OpenRent was built to navigate changes exactly like this; just as we have guided you through multiple legislative changes through the years, our platform will automatically handle the complexities of the new Act for you.
We’ve been working hard to ensure that when the new rules kick in, compliance won’t be a chore; it will be automatic.
- What will happen to your tenancies?
- Advertising your property under the new rules
- Rent, done right
- More tools for the new rules
- Your Renters’ Rights Act FAQs
Keep your tenancies compliant under the new rules. Rent Now puts you in control. Find Out More
What will happen to your tenancies?
Existing tenancies
One of the biggest concerns for landlords is what happens to tenancies already in progress.
If you have a Rent Now tenancy that started before 1st May 2026, our system is designed to transition it smoothly into the new legal framework. On the commencement date, these tenancies will automatically become periodic.
To ensure you stay compliant without lifting a finger, OpenRent will automatically serve the mandatory government “Information Sheet” to your tenants on your behalf.
New tenancies
From 1st May 2026, every new tenancy created through Rent Now will automatically use our updated, legally vetted contract.
This agreement has been built from the ground up to meet the requirements of the Renters’ Rights Act. You’ll still be able to preview and customise the contract before it’s sent for signing, ensuring the process remains as quick and digital as ever, but with the added peace of mind that it’s compliant with the new rules.
Note: These changes only apply to tenancies in England. PRTs in Scotland, Occupation Contracts in Wales, and lodger agreements remain unaffected.
Advertising your property under the new rules
Advertising on OpenRent will remain largely the same and we will continue to constantly enhance our toolkit to ensure you find the right match under the new regulations.
Even as tenancies move from fixed-term to periodic, you will be able to signal your preferred tenancy length, helping you connect with tenants whose long-term plans align with yours and ultimately reduce wasted viewings.
You will also be able to continue using tenant preference filters to indicate your ideal tenant profile; we’ll simply provide helpful, integrated reminders throughout the listing process to ensure your criteria stay fully compliant with the new Act without you having to second-guess every detail.
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Rent, done right
The rules around rent are changing, but as the landlord, you will remain in control of pricing your property. While the Renters’ Rights Act introduces a more structured framework for how and when adjustments can be made, the core principle remains the same: you set the price that reflects the value of your home.
We have built safeguards directly into OpenRent to ensure you stay compliant with these new rules without having to second-guess every step of the process.
The ban on rental bidding
From 1st May 2026, the Act introduces a strict ban on “rental bidding,” meaning you cannot invite or encourage tenants to offer more than the advertised rent. To protect you, our platform will automatically flag any wording in your property description that could be seen as encouraging bids. This ensures your listing remains clear and compliant, as the price you list is the price the law expects you to accept.
New limits on rent in advance
The Renters’ Rights Act also introduces a strict limit on upfront payments: you will no longer be able to collect more than one month’s rent in advance. For years, taking several months of rent upfront was the standard safety net for landlords letting to students, expats, or tenants without a strong UK credit history.
With that traditional fallback gone, the tools you use to vet and protect your tenancies are more critical than ever. Thorough referencing, rent guarantee insurance, and automated rent collection are no longer just “nice-to-haves”; they are now your primary line of defence.
We are constantly upgrading these integrated tools to help you manage risk and help protect your rental income without the need for large upfront payments.
Managing rent increases via Section 13
With fixed-term contracts and traditional rent review clauses disappearing, all rent increases will now require you serving a Section 13 notice, limited to once every 12 months. To make this transition effortless, we are building a new tool that will allow you to serve these notices directly to your tenants with confidence. By automating the paperwork and timelines, we ensure your rent adjustments are handled correctly and legally every time.
Let us track payments, send reminders, and even compile a complete arrears history, all without lifting a finger. Discover Rent Collection
More tools for the new rules
As the private rented sector in England evolves, so does OpenRent. We are actively updating and building the tools you need to stay compliant while protecting your position as a landlord.
This includes guided support for regaining possession through a new Section 8 notice tool, which will be available soon. This feature is designed specifically to help you navigate the new and updated grounds for possession that will follow the abolition of Section 21, ensuring you have a clear, legal path forward should your circumstances change.
Despite these legislative shifts, it remains business as usual at OpenRent. You don’t have to navigate the legal complexities of the Renters’ Rights Act alone; from advertising your property and finding reliable tenants to creating fully compliant agreements, we handle the heavy lifting for you.
Our platform makes sure that every step of your landlord journey is protected, allowing you to let with confidence knowing that the technical and legal details are already taken care of.
Your Renters’ Rights Act FAQs
Here are the answers to the most common questions we’re currently hearing from landlords ahead of 1st May 2026.
Renters’ Rights Act landlord FAQs 1. Will OpenRent serve the government’s “Information Sheet” to tenants on my behalf?Yes, if you use Rent Now, we’ll send tenants the Information Sheet to your tenants on your behalf. This applies to current tenancies, agreements signed before 1st May 2026 where the tenancy starts after that date, and any ‘renewals’ yet to begin.
Your Rent Now agreement already allows documents to be served to tenants by email, so there’s nothing extra you need to do.
From 1st May 2026, any new tenancies you set up with Rent Now will automatically use our updated, fully compliant contracts. You’ll be able to view sample agreements on our site from that date.
Until then, you can continue creating tenancies as usual. Existing assured shorthold tenancies will automatically convert to assured periodic tenancies.
If your agreement is signed before 1st May 2026, any rent in advance set out in the contract will still apply, even if the tenancy starts later.
For agreements signed on or after 1st May 2026, you won’t be able to require more than one month’s rent in advance before the tenancy begins. Any clauses asking for more than this won’t be valid.
You can still sign an assured shorthold tenancy (AST) agreement now without any issues. We’ll make sure it’s brought into line with the new rules by serving the required government Information Sheet to your tenants.
From 1st May 2026, the legislation takes priority over the contract. This means any fixed-term clauses will be overridden, and all active ASTs in England will automatically become periodic. In practice, fixed terms will no longer apply, and you won’t be able to rely on break clauses going forward.
From 1st May 2026, you won’t be able to serve a Section 21 notice to end a tenancy. If you want to regain possession of your property, you’ll either need to agree a surrender with your tenant or use a Section 8 notice instead. We’re building a Section 8 tool to support this.
If you’ve already served a valid Section 21 notice before 1st May 2026, it will still be valid and can be relied on after that date.
From 1st May 2026, any clause in a tenancy agreement in England requiring rent to be paid in advance will no longer be valid, except for an initial payment of up to one month’s rent between signing and the tenancy start date. This change does not affect agreements entered into before 1st May 2026.
7. How will the Renters’ Rights Act affect landlords in Scotland and Wales?It will not. The changes apply to England only. We’ll make a few small, consistent updates to property advertising across all regions, but otherwise Rent Now in Scotland and Wales will continue to operate as it does today.
8. What if one tenant on a joint tenancy wants to leave?This stays the same as it is now. You can sign a “renewal” tenancy, and the tenant who is leaving doesn’t need to sign it. If needed, they may still need to be replaced with a new tenant, depending on what you and the remaining tenants agree.
9. Will the Renters’ Rights Act affect guarantors?No, nothing changes. A guarantor can only be removed with the landlord’s agreement, and the Renters’ Rights Act does not alter this. Guarantors remain jointly and severally liable until they are formally removed from the agreement.
10. Will you add me to the landlord database?Details on the landlord database are still limited, and it is not part of the changes coming into effect on 1st May 2026. We’ll share more information as soon as there are confirmed updates.
Final thoughts
The Renters’ Rights Act represents a significant change, but it doesn’t have to be a source of stress. Remember that OpenRent was built to navigate these types of legislative changes, and our platform will continue to evolve to keep you, your properties and tenants protected.
From the first advert to the final signature and in-tenancy management, we will handle the heavy lifting and the legal fine print so you can focus on being a great landlord.
As we move closer to the 1st May deadline, we will continue to release new updates and detailed guides to help make the transition as easy and smooth as possible.
To stay ahead of the curve, make sure to keep a close eye on our blog and subscribe to our newsletter for the latest updates, expert tips, and feature announcements.