Important Renters’ Rights Act updates for BTR operators in England
Today, the Government has announced the commencement date of next phase of the Renters’ Rights Act reforms.
The new national landlord registration service will be rolled out region by region. It will launch on 15 December 2026, starting in the West Midlands and onto other areas over 12 months.
Landlords in each region across England will be gradually asked to sign up to the new register. It will be a legal requirement and risks a fine if not completed.
These requirements initially only apply to landlords with properties under let, or which become occupied during rollout. Under future legislation, as the Government rolls out the public interface, landlords will also be required to register any unoccupied properties before marketing them for let.
Letting agents and landlords will also need to include registration numbers on adverts.
In addition, the Government has announced that HMRC’s Valuation Office will become responsible for decisions on challenges to rent increases in England.
While the Government develops these reforms, renters who want to challenge a rent increase must still apply to the First-tier Tribunal.
The full announcement made today can be found in the link below: