Plain-English explanations of what the Renters' Rights Act means in practice - written for self-managing landlords in England, updated for 2026.
Mandatory, additional and selective licensing explained, the national minimum room sizes, how to apply - and the £40,000 penalty plus rent repayment orders if you get it wrong.
DEPOSITSFair wear and tear versus damage, the betterment rule that sinks "new for old" claims, the check-in inventory that wins disputes, and how free scheme adjudication actually decides who keeps the money.
THE ACTThe 1 May 2026 changes were only Phase 1. When the PRS Database and Landlord Ombudsman arrive, the standards coming later this decade, and what you can safely leave alone for now.
RENTTenants can now challenge any rent increase risk-free. Why the tribunal can never go above your Form 4A figure, why the new rent is no longer backdated, and the comparable evidence that wins.
COMPLIANCERight to Rent, the written statement of terms, certificates, deposit rules and rent in advance - the full pre-move-in checklist under the Renters' Rights Act, with the penalty for getting each one wrong.
AGREEMENTS"No pets", "No DSS" and "No children" clauses are now void or unlawful. The pet-request right, the rental discrimination ban, the £7,000 penalty, and the fair alternatives you can still use.
TAXMTD for Income Tax started on 6 April 2026. Who is caught, the £50k/£30k/£20k thresholds, the quarterly deadlines, and the mistakes that trigger penalties.
TAXMortgage interest is no longer a deduction, just a 20% credit. Why higher-rate landlords are taxed on income that went to the lender - with a worked example and how to check your own hit.
TAXCGT on residential property runs at 18% or 24%, reported and paid within 60 days of completion - not on your next return. The rates, the deadline, and how to work out your gain.
TAXCompanies escape Section 24, but you pay to get the money out, and moving a property in can trigger CGT and Stamp Duty. The honest case for and against.
TAXYou are taxed on profit, not rent. The costs you can deduct, the repairs-versus-improvements trap, the £1,000 allowance, and how to register for Self Assessment.
AGREEMENTSEvery new tenancy from 1 May 2026 needs one before the tenant signs. What it must contain, when to give it, how to fold it into the agreement, and the £7,000 penalty for skipping it.
DEPOSITSWhat you must do with a deposit and by when - the cap, the 30-day clock, prescribed information, and how getting it wrong now blocks almost every Section 8 ground.
POSSESSIONEvery ground landlords actually use in one table - mandatory vs discretionary, the first-12-months rules, and the evidence courts expect for each.
AGREEMENTSEvery pre-2026 template is legally obsolete. What an agreement must now contain, the clauses you can no longer write, and what to do about existing tenants.
RENTSince 1 May 2026 there is exactly one lawful way to raise the rent. The steps, the deadlines, the tribunal risk - and the mistakes that invalidate notices.
POSSESSIONSection 21 is gone. The grounds that replaced no-fault evictions - notice periods, the 3-month arrears rule, evidence, and realistic timelines.
AGREEMENTSFixed terms are abolished. What "assured periodic" means for your agreement and your cash flow, and what you can still agree with your tenant.