Landlord Insights
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Edition archive

Weekly Briefings

Every Monday morning, Landlord Insights publishes a briefing covering regulatory changes across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Subscribers receive the full edition by email.

26 editions in the archive

June 2026

4 editions
15 Jun 2026Nr 025

Weekly Briefing 25: RRA Enforcement Funding Hits Councils

Councils are putting Renters' Rights Act enforcement funding to work, with Wolverhampton committing an extra £714,000 to private sector housing enforcement in 2026/27 and Worcester accepting a £70,746 grant to expand housing officer capacity, against a maximum civil penalty of £40,000. Plus Westminster's renewed HMO additional licensing scheme going live on 31 August 2026, the Wales anti-discrimination ban now in force via WSI 2026/6, new data protection complaint-handling rules from 19 June, and confirmation that phase two of the Act, including the PRS database, will begin rolling out from late 2026.
08 Jun 2026Nr 024

Weekly Briefing 24: RRA Enforcement Funding Builds

Local authorities are ramping up Renters' Rights Act enforcement, with Wolverhampton committing an extra £714,000 and Worcester receiving a £70,746 grant as part of £41 million in new national funding. Plus Westminster's HMO additional licensing renewal to 2031, the Wales anti-discrimination ban now in force with a 14 June contract-update deadline, and the 31 July court deadline for pre-abolition Section 21 notices.
01 Jun 2026Nr 022

Weekly Briefing 22: S21 Transitional Deadline

The transitional window for pre-abolition Section 21 notices closes on 31 July 2026 — the last day to issue court possession proceedings on a notice served before Section 21 was abolished on 1 May 2026. Plus this week's RRA commencement updates across England and Wales and the deadlines falling in the next 30 days.
01 Jun 2026Nr 023

Weekly Briefing 23: Post-S21 deadline and Wales reforms

The 31 July 2026 court deadline for pre-abolition Section 21 notices is now the most pressing compliance obligation, alongside Wales anti-discrimination rules now in force and the RRA Information Sheet deadline passed on 31 May.

May 2026

4 editions
26 May 2026Nr 021

Weekly Briefing: Nr 021, 26 May 2026

Five days remain to serve the RRA Information Sheet on all existing tenants in England; Welsh anti-discrimination letting rules take effect on Sunday.
18 May 2026Nr 020

Weekly Briefing: Nr 020, 19 May 2026

The 31 May Information Sheet deadline is 12 days away — landlords who
13 May 2026Nr 019

Weekly Briefing: Nr 019, 13 May 2026

Two overlapping action deadlines - the RRA Information Sheet service obligation by 31 May and new anti-discrimination contract terms in Wales from 1 June - dominate this week, alongside updated MEES guidance confirming the £10,000 cost cap.
04 May 2026Nr 018

Renters' Rights Act: Section 21 Implementation Brief

Section 21 ceased to apply to assured tenancies in England from 1 May 2026. No new Section 21 notices may be served on or after that date.

April 2026

5 editions
27 Apr 2026Nr 017

Q1 2026 Selective Licensing Tracker

A structured review of selective licensing scheme activity across England in Q1 2026, including new designations, consultations opened, and schemes approaching renewal.
20 Apr 2026Nr 016

MEES Proposed Timeline: Landlord Submission Guide

The government has confirmed the MEES upgrade timeline requiring all private rented properties in England to meet EPC Band C by 2030. This briefing sets out the key dates, cost cap, and what landlords need to do.
13 Apr 2026Nr 015

Scotland Rent Control Update

The Housing (Scotland) Act 2025 introduced a framework for rent control areas in Scotland. This briefing covers the current status, the assessment process, and what landlords with Scottish properties need to know.
06 Apr 2026Nr 014

Awaab's Law: Practical Compliance Memo

Awaab's Law extends to the private rented sector under the Renters' Rights Act 2025. Landlords must investigate hazardous damp and mould within 14 days of a report and begin remediation within a further 7 days. This edition sets out the compliance framework.
06 Apr 2026Nr 014

Making Tax Digital for Landlords — In Force from 6 April 2026

Making Tax Digital for Income Tax Self Assessment applies to landlords with qualifying income above £50,000 from 6 April 2026. Quarterly digital reporting to HMRC is now mandatory for affected landlords. The threshold drops to £30,000 from April 2027.

March 2026

5 editions
30 Mar 2026Nr 013

Hackney Licensing: Dual Scheme Obligations

Hackney Council's selective licensing scheme and additional HMO licensing scheme are both active from May 2026. Landlords with properties in Hackney may be subject to both schemes simultaneously and must hold separate licences for each.
23 Mar 2026Nr 012

How to Rent Guide Updated Ahead of Renters' Rights Act

The government's How to Rent guide has been updated for May 2026 to reflect changes under the Renters' Rights Act 2025. Landlords must provide the latest version to new tenants at the start of a tenancy — using an old version is a prescribed information failure.
16 Mar 2026Nr 011

Civil Penalty Tables Published: Starting Points Confirmed

The government has published updated civil penalty guidance for local authorities, setting out starting point figures for common housing offences under the Renters' Rights Act 2025. Maximum penalties have increased to £40,000.
09 Mar 2026Nr 010

Decent Homes Standard Extended to Private Rented Sector

The government has published its consultation response confirming the Decent Homes Standard will be extended to the private rented sector. A phased implementation timeline and exemption framework will follow in secondary legislation. Landlords should begin assessing portfolios now.
02 Mar 2026Nr 009

Building Safety Levy Confirmed: Two-Staircase Rule in Force

Two significant building safety instruments come into effect on 1 March 2026. The Building Safety Levy is confirmed for 1 October 2026. The two-staircase requirement for new residential buildings over 18 metres takes effect 30 September 2026.

February 2026

4 editions
23 Feb 2026Nr 008

Devolved Nations Roundup: Scotland, Wales and NI Updates

No new statutory instruments this week. This edition covers the devolved regulatory positions across Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, and sets out the March regulatory calendar.
16 Feb 2026Nr 007

Renters' Rights Act: 74 Days to Go — Where Prep Should Be

No new statutory instruments this week. With 74 days to the 1 May commencement of the Renters' Rights Act 2025, this edition sets out where landlords and letting agents should be in their preparation, and covers the EPC compliance position for 2026.
09 Feb 2026Nr 006

Hackney Additional & Selective Licensing Confirmed for 1 May

Hackney has confirmed new additional and selective landlord licensing schemes commencing 1 May 2026. The additional licensing scheme covers HMOs with three or more tenants from two or more households. The selective licensing scheme covers specified wards.
02 Feb 2026Nr 005

Harrow Approves Six Selective Licensing Areas: Phased Rollout

Harrow Council has approved six new selective licensing designations to be rolled out across 2026, covering Edgware, Roxeth, Greenhill, Marlborough, Wealdstone North, and Wealdstone South. Schemes begin between May and September 2026.

January 2026

4 editions
26 Jan 2026Nr 004

Q1 Compliance Calendar: Key Dates and Devolved Nations Update

No new statutory instruments this week. This edition covers the Q1 compliance calendar for landlords across all four countries and sets out the key devolved regulatory positions as of January 2026.
19 Jan 2026Nr 003

Renters' Rights Act Guidance Published: What Landlords Must Do

The government published detailed guidance for landlords and letting agents on the Renters' Rights Act 2025 on 15 January. The guidance confirms an implementation date of 1 May 2026 and covers the new tenancy regime, possession grounds, rent increase rules, and pet provisions.
12 Jan 2026Nr 002

Renters' Rights Act: Implementation Timeline and Key Obligations

No new statutory instruments this week. This edition covers the confirmed implementation timeline for the Renters' Rights Act 2025 and the preparation steps landlords should be taking now.
05 Jan 2026Nr 001

Rent Smart Wales Fees Updated: 2026 Registration Costs Confirmed

Rent Smart Wales has revised its fee schedule for 2026. All landlords letting in Wales must be registered and licensed. This edition also sets out the key regulatory dates for the year ahead across all four countries.