The Renters’ Rights Act is set to change the private rented sector in England on 1st May 2026. While the transition to a fully periodic system and the abolition of Section 21 may feel like a daunting shift for many landlords, the reality is that you don’t need to become a legal expert to stay compliant.
OpenRent was built to navigate changes exactly like this; just as we have guided you through multiple legislative changes through the years, our platform will automatically handle the complexities of the new Act for you.
We’ve been working hard to ensure that when the new rules kick in, compliance won’t be a chore; it will be automatic.
- What will happen to your tenancies?
- Advertising your property under the new rules
- Rent, done right
- More tools for the new rules
Keep your tenancies compliant under the new rules. Rent Now puts you in control. Find Out More
What will happen to your tenancies?
Existing tenancies
One of the biggest concerns for landlords is what happens to tenancies already in progress.
If you have a Rent Now tenancy that started before 1st May 2026, our system is designed to transition it smoothly into the new legal framework. On the commencement date, these tenancies will automatically become periodic.
To ensure you stay compliant without lifting a finger, OpenRent will automatically serve the mandatory government “Information Sheet” to your tenants on your behalf.
New tenancies
From 1st May 2026, every new tenancy created through Rent Now will automatically use our updated, legally vetted contract.
This agreement has been built from the ground up to meet the requirements of the Renters’ Rights Act. You’ll still be able to preview and customise the contract before it’s sent for signing, ensuring the process remains as quick and digital as ever, but with the added peace of mind that it’s compliant with the new rules.
Note: These changes only apply to tenancies in England. PRTs in Scotland, Occupation Contracts in Wales, and lodger agreements remain unaffected.
Advertising your property under the new rules
Advertising on OpenRent will remain largely the same and we will continue to constantly enhance our toolkit to ensure you find the right match under the new regulations.
Even as tenancies move from fixed-term to periodic, you will be able to signal your preferred tenancy length, helping you connect with tenants whose long-term plans align with yours and ultimately reduce wasted viewings.
You will also be able to continue using tenant preference filters to indicate your ideal tenant profile; we’ll simply provide helpful, integrated reminders throughout the listing process to ensure your criteria stay fully compliant with the new Act without you having to second-guess every detail.
You might also be interested in…
- How OpenRent is Preparing for the Renters’ Rights Act
- How to Be a Live-In Landlord: Rules, Rights and Managing Lodgers
- When Will Section 21 Be Scrapped?
- Rent in Advance Rules Under the Renters’ Rights Act Explained
- Renting a Property to Family and Friends: What Are the Rules?
Rent, done right
The rules around rent are changing, but as the landlord, you will remain in control of pricing your property. While the Renters’ Rights Act introduces a more structured framework for how and when adjustments can be made, the core principle remains the same: you set the price that reflects the value of your home.
We have built safeguards directly into OpenRent to ensure you stay compliant with these new rules without having to second-guess every step of the process.
The ban on rental bidding
From 1st May 2026, the Act introduces a strict ban on “rental bidding,” meaning you cannot invite or encourage tenants to offer more than the advertised rent. To protect you, our platform will automatically flag any wording in your property description that could be seen as encouraging bids. This ensures your listing remains clear and compliant, as the price you list is the price the law expects you to accept.
New limits on rent in advance
The Renters’ Rights Act also introduces a strict limit on upfront payments: you will no longer be able to collect more than one month’s rent in advance. For years, taking several months of rent upfront was the standard safety net for landlords letting to students, expats, or tenants without a strong UK credit history.
With that traditional fallback gone, the tools you use to vet and protect your tenancies are more critical than ever. Thorough referencing, rent guarantee insurance, and automated rent collection are no longer just “nice-to-haves”; they are now your primary line of defence.
We are constantly upgrading these integrated tools to help you manage risk and help protect your rental income without the need for large upfront payments.
Managing rent increases via Section 13
With fixed-term contracts and traditional rent review clauses disappearing, all rent increases will now require you serving a Section 13 notice, limited to once every 12 months. To make this transition effortless, we are building a new tool that will allow you to serve these notices directly to your tenants with confidence. By automating the paperwork and timelines, we ensure your rent adjustments are handled correctly and legally every time.
Let us track payments, send reminders, and even compile a complete arrears history, all without lifting a finger. Discover Rent Collection
More tools for the new rules
As the private rented sector in England evolves, so does OpenRent. We are actively updating and building the tools you need to stay compliant while protecting your position as a landlord.
This includes guided support for regaining possession through a new Section 8 notice tool, which will be available soon. This feature is designed specifically to help you navigate the new and updated grounds for possession that will follow the abolition of Section 21, ensuring you have a clear, legal path forward should your circumstances change.
Despite these legislative shifts, it remains business as usual at OpenRent. You don’t have to navigate the legal complexities of the Renters’ Rights Act alone; from advertising your property and finding reliable tenants to creating fully compliant agreements, we handle the heavy lifting for you.
Our platform makes sure that every step of your landlord journey is protected, allowing you to let with confidence knowing that the technical and legal details are already taken care of.
Final thoughts
The Renters’ Rights Act represents a significant change, but it doesn’t have to be a source of stress. Remember that OpenRent was built to navigate these types of legislative changes, and our platform will continue to evolve to keep you, your properties and tenants protected.
From the first advert to the final signature and in-tenancy management, we will handle the heavy lifting and the legal fine print so you can focus on being a great landlord.
As we move closer to the 1st May deadline, we will continue to release new updates and detailed guides to help make the transition as easy and smooth as possible.
To stay ahead of the curve, make sure to keep a close eye on our blog and subscribe to our newsletter for the latest updates, expert tips, and feature announcements.
@mod_harry
Has OR considered producing tool or a data analysis showing rent increases over past year in different areas or postcodes (or rent increases based on advertised rents), ideally broken down by the type of property and number of bedrooms. Or the average rent advertised for properties of particular type by postcodes, in any quarterly period
Either for individual postcodes or for a group of postcodes chosen by a landlord.
The RRA legislation requires market information to be taken account of when setting rents but this actually quite hard to find.
Even if it was only based on rentnow contracts issued by OR, you could still have big enough samples for meaningful areas eg show what has happened in South and North London inside and outside zone 2 (for example).
You could also analyze data on what % increases happen within contracts that OR do the rent collection for, again by postcode/area and type of property.
Best
Hi @David240,
Thank you for the suggestion, I’ve shared this with the team.
We do have a rent calculator that landlords can use to get a market appropriate rental amount for their properties:
This is good. I was hoping you’d do this.
Do you know the timeframe of when this will be done?
If you ask Ts to acknowledge receipt of the info sheet, you’ll know when it’s been served Karl
