Renters Rights Act - Things to be aware of ahead of 1st May....

It is just over six weeks to go until the second phase of the Renters Rights Act comes in on 1st May.

For many these are the most significant changes of Act, as the day to day business of the Private Rented Sector will look very different indeed.

Below we explain some of the changes, and what's being done to prepare for them.

Government Information Sheet
Landlords will be required to serve a Government Information Sheet to all existing tenants before the new Act comes into force.

This document was expected to be released in March 2026, however at the time of writing it has not yet been finalised.

For managed clients, MRKT Property Experts will ensure this is served in line with the new regulations.

Lets with Pets
Renting with pets has historically been difficult for many tenants, particularly in Bournemouth and Poole, where a large number of properties are leasehold flats.

Many landlords have understandably been cautious about allowing animals in their properties.

Under the Renters’ Rights Act, tenants will have the right to request permission for a pet, either before or during the tenancy. Landlords cannot unreasonably refuse this request.Over the next few weeks in the build up to the act we may see more requests for pets.

What this means in practice:
Leasehold / Flats
-Landlords will need to check their head lease.
-If the lease prohibits pets completely, this would be considered a reasonable reason to refuse.
-If the lease requires freeholder permission, this must be requested within 28 days of the tenant’s request.
-If permission is granted, the pet must be allowed.
-If it is declined by the freeholder, this would be a legitimate reason to refuse.

Freehold Properties
Refusing pets may be more difficult unless there is a clear and reasonable justification.

However, landlords can require tenants to obtain pet insurance, which must be paid for by the tenant.

Rent in Advance
Under the new rules, landlords will generally only be able to request one month’s rent in advance.

For some tenants, this may increase the need for a guarantor. A growing option is the use of company guarantor services, where a third-party company acts as the guarantor for the tenancy. This is a tenant-paid service, subject to certain conditions, and can be particularly helpful for international students and some workers.

We are partnered with our referencing agency Goodlord to offer this service.