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May 1 2026 - Renters' Right Act Commencement Day

You have 0 days to:

Serve any final Section 21 notices

Stop accepting above-asking rent offers

Prepare for the rental bidding ban

Remove “No DSS” from adverts

Remove “No Children” from listings

Show one clear rent price

Stop using fixed-term agreements

Switch to periodic tenancy templates

Check which tenancies go periodic

Stop taking rent before signing

Take no more than one month’s rent

Move all evictions to Section 8

Train staff on new notice rules

Create Section 13 process flow

Add two months to rent reviews

File court claims for Section 21s

Update landlord move-in grounds

Update landlord selling grounds

Send the RRA Information Sheet

Create written terms where missing

Update How to Rent processes

Review tenant screening questions

Update pet request processes

Stop backdating rent increases

Discuss rent protection backbooks

Act now before it is too late...

Act now!

Covid-19, Landlords

Covid-19 Winter Plan: Key messages for agents, landlords, and tenants

The government has published an open letter to landlords and agents with key messages to share with tenants on how to stay safe during the winter surge of Covid-19.

The Goodlord team

Dec 20, 2021

Alongside the guidance for moving home safely during Covid-19 under Plan B, the government has published an open letter to landlords and agents, signed by Housing Minister, Christopher Pincher, with its Winter Plan advice on how to "encourage behaviours to help combat the virus and cascade the message of the importance of good ventilation to your residents." The letter highlights that good ventilation can also "help reduce condensation, dampness, mould and fungal growth and dust mites."

The advice to landlords and agents includes:

Ensuring that tenants are able to open windows in "habitable rooms"
Ensuring that bathrooms and kitchens either have openable windows or extract ventilation
Considering installing "positive pressure or constant run ventilation systems" - which will also help with condensation
Making sure that tenants are aware of the importance of ventilation, especially if they have people working in or visiting their home
Ensuring that any problems with damp in the homes are addressed

Although this guidance doesn't apply to individual tenants living on their own, it advises that those tenants should still follow the guidance if they have any visitors.

The letter also recognises that some tenants may not wish to keep windows open during the winter months, especially in the midst of the energy crisis and increasing energy costs. It therefore calls attention to the financial support available for those tenants that may struggle to pay their energy bills, depending on their circumstances.

This article is intended as a guide only. For all of the advice and the full list of "key messages" to share with your tenants, visit gov.uk.