What Landlords Should Be Doing Now to Stay Compliant in 2026

With the Renters’ Rights Act on the horizon, many landlords are asking a simple but important question: what should I actually be doing now?

The answer is not to panic or overhaul everything overnight. For most responsible landlords, the changes ahead are manageable. However, the margin for error is narrowing. Informal practices that may have gone unnoticed in the past are more likely to cause difficulty in the future.

Staying compliant is increasingly about structure, evidence and consistency.

Reviewing tenancy documentation

One of the most sensible starting points is to review existing tenancy documentation. Agreements should be up to date, clear and consistent with current legal requirements. Side letters, informal variations or historic arrangements that are not properly recorded can create uncertainty later, particularly if possession or rent increases are challenged.

As tenancies move towards a fully periodic model, landlords should ensure they understand how notice, rent reviews and tenant communication will work in practice under the new framework.

Compliance is no longer administrative

Legal compliance has always mattered, but it is now moving firmly out of the category of “admin”. Deposit protection, prescribed information, safety certificates and statutory notices are no longer just procedural steps. Errors in timing or content can have significant consequences.

Landlords should ensure that compliance records are complete, accessible and up to date. Relying on memory, assumption or outdated advice is increasingly risky.

Repairs and responsiveness matter more than ever

Disrepair issues are one of the most common triggers for disputes. Under the evolving regulatory landscape, how repairs are handled can be just as important as whether they are eventually completed.

Clear reporting channels, prompt responses and proper records of inspections and works are essential. Where issues are disputed, contemporaneous evidence often makes the difference between a manageable conversation and a formal complaint.

Understanding possession grounds early

With Section 21 set to be removed, landlords will need to rely on statutory grounds to recover possession. This makes early understanding crucial.

Landlords should familiarise themselves with the grounds likely to apply to their circumstances, such as selling the property or moving back in, and understand the evidential requirements attached to them. Possession is not disappearing, but it is becoming more structured and more scrutinised.

The role of management and oversight

Many landlords use managing agents, but the legal responsibility almost always remains with the property owner. Assuming that compliance and process are being handled correctly without oversight is a common source of difficulty.

A law-led approach to management focuses on prevention: anticipating risk, maintaining proper documentation and addressing issues before they escalate. This approach is becoming increasingly valuable as regulation tightens.

Calm preparation is the key

The most important takeaway is that staying compliant is not about reacting to headlines. It is about steady, informed preparation.

Landlords who take time now to review their arrangements, understand their obligations and ensure their properties are managed with legal foresight will be far better placed as the rules continue to evolve.

At Hermens, our focus is on helping landlords manage property confidently, with clarity rather than concern. In a more regulated environment, good structure and early advice make all the difference.