Landlord Law Newsround finds itself in another week, let’s see what has caught the team’s eye this week.
Angela Rayner rules out rent controls in England
Angela Rayner has confirmed that the government will not be bringing in Rent Controls. Which will be a relief to landlords.
The government, she said, will be relying on the measures in the Renters Rights Act, which were “already having a significant impact on the market“.
She also said that controls which had been implemented in some areas of the UK over the past few years had not “necessarily brought rents down“.
New Right to Rent codes take effect in October
The Home Office has published revised Right to Rent codes of practice taking effect on 1 October 2026, including separate guidance on avoiding unlawful discrimination.
Landlords and agents will need to update referencing procedures and staff guidance before October. The discrimination code is particularly important where applicants have digital status, time-limited permission or unfamiliar immigration documents.
Final week for many legacy section 21 claims
Landlords relying on section 21 notices served before 1 May 2026 generally have only until 31 July 2026 to start possession proceedings—or until the notice expires, if earlier.
Accelerated possession remains available only where the transitional conditions are satisfied.
Landlords and agents should check their records to ensure that proceedings, where required, are issued in good time.
‘Poor conduct’ could impact landlords with PRS Ombudsman
Matthew Pennycook, Housing Minister, has stated that repeated bad conduct from a landlord could be taken into consideration when a case is brought to the PRS Ombudsman. He did, however, also clarify that the Ombudsman is not there to ‘punish landlords’ but will take previous landlord conduct into account based on evidence provided.
He added
The Ombudsman will have the discretion to consider the individual circumstances of each complaint, based on the evidence provided by parties involved. This could include where evidence is provided of landlords’ repeated poor conduct.
Local councils are expected to take the lead on enforcement.
Making Tax Digital deadline draws closer
Landlords with annual revenues above £50,000 will need to start completing quarterly tax returns from the 7th August, but a survey announced this week claims that out of 500 landlords and sole traders, 25% have not signed up yet to the HMRC in order to do this.
Further figures show that out of 864,000 estimated business people that need to sign up 216,000 have not even registered for the new tax regime.
Landlords have stated that this new tax will take up six days of their time over the next year. Failure to sign up will incur penalties for each missed deadline.
Social landlords still not meeting response times
A report issued this week from the government states that social landlords are still struggling to meet the legal response times within Awaabs Law for damp and mould. This is for the first phase of the legislation despite the fact that phase two comes into force on 30 November 2026.
Whilst some emergency hazard complaints were met within the guidelines such gas leaks and floods, damp and mould complaints are taking months to resolve between inspections and remedial works. This is coupled with not taking into account the vulnerability of the tenant as well. The report also details that the definitions within the legislation are not clear enough which means Awaabs Law is being applied inconsistently.
The report described ‘significant challenges in translating the legislation and associated guidance into operational practice, particularly where requirements depended on professional judgement rather than clear, objective benchmarks’.
You can read more here.
Council can predict HMO’s with serious hazards
A new licensing scheme in Slough is in consultation until September 22 on a new additional licensing scheme for smaller HMO’s with three or four tenants sharing a kitchen or bathroom. Slough Council says it can predict before the scheme comes into force that out of the 2,024 HMO’s in its borough that 22.3% will have serious hazard.
A councillor for the council said
These licensing schemes mean there are more requirements for landlords to follow. They must take all measures to provide safe, secure and habitable housing for their tenants.
The scheme will ‘improve standards’ and housing ‘that is fit for purpose’.
Snippets
Burnham won’t rule out rent freeze as part of the support package
Be aware: not all rent repayment order clams are what they seem
Renters’ chief quits, taking part-credit for Section 21 abolition
Burnham pledges to end rough sleeping in England in first speech as prime minister
Tenant fraud is on the rise, says vast majority of landlords
See also our Quick News Updates on Landlord Law
Newsround will be back again next week
Leave a Reply