In this blog:
• What has actually changed for North West London landlords since May 2026?
• Now Section 21 is abolished, what does that mean for managing your tenancy day to day?
• Why do records and documentation matter more than they did before?
• What is the difference between rent collection and full management under the new rules?
The Renters' Rights Act came into force on 1 May 2026. The weeks before it were spent working out what was changing and what had to be done by the deadline. That moment has passed. The question now is not what is changing, but whether your property is being managed in a way that reflects the new reality, clearly and consistently. Many owners have moved through the transition without difficulty. For others there is real uncertainty about whether everything is actually in place, whether records are where they need to be, and whether the current setup offers protection if something goes wrong.
What has actually changed, in plain terms
The biggest change is the end of fixed-term tenancies. All existing tenancies became rolling, open-ended arrangements on 1 May, with no fixed end dates; residents can leave on two months' notice at any time, and new tenancies work the same way. The Section 21 route to end a tenancy without a reason has been abolished, replaced by Section 8, which requires a clear, documented, evidence-supported ground such as significant arrears or serious anti-social behaviour. Rent increases are now limited to once a year through a prescribed form and a minimum two months' notice. Residents can request permission to keep a pet, and a refusal must be properly considered and given in writing. Further phases are still to come, including a national landlord register and a residents' complaints service, expected later in 2026 and into 2027. (Dates and detail are still moving; confirm specific points with us or your solicitor before acting.)
Why records and documentation matter more now
Before May, weak records were an inconvenience. Now they carry real risk, because recovering a property requires evidence-supported grounds rather than a simple notice. An owner with thorough, up-to-date records of rent, communications, inspections and maintenance is in a far stronger position than one whose records are patchy. This is not about preparing for conflict; most tenancies run smoothly and the records rarely need to be used. But if a problem develops, having them means dealing with it confidently rather than from uncertainty. For owners with several properties, consistency matters, and bringing everything to the same standard now, while things are stable, is far easier than under pressure.
The information sheet deadline
Owners with existing tenancies had to give every resident a copy of the official Renters' Rights Act Information Sheet by 31 May 2026. If it has been sent, you are covered. If you are not certain, check with your agent now rather than leaving it open.
Communication and maintenance under the new rules
Longer, open-ended tenancies make the day-to-day experience of living in the property matter more, not less. Residents who feel their concerns are handled promptly tend to stay longer and cause fewer problems; those who feel ignored are more likely to escalate. With possession now harder to regain, keeping a good resident is worth more than it was. So communication needs to be consistent, maintenance dealt with and recorded clearly, and inspections carried out on schedule and documented in a way that stands up to scrutiny. Expectations around damp and mould are tightening too, through an extension of Awaab's Law to the private rented sector expected later this year, which matters for owners of older North West London properties.
What owners should review now
The practical checks are straightforward: safety certificates current and recorded across every property; rent-increase procedures following the new process rather than an informal message or an old clause; each property's condition reflecting the rising maintenance and habitability standards; and clear communication since May, including whether the information sheet reached everyone with an existing written tenancy. None of this is complicated when managed properly. The difficulty is that many owners do not have a clear picture of where each property stands across all of it at any given time.
Rent collection versus full management now
Rent collection means an agent collects the rent and passes it to you. It does not typically cover inspections, maintenance follow-up, compliance records or ongoing resident communication. Under the old framework that was a limitation; under the new one it leaves owners carrying more consequential responsibilities without the support to manage them. The things that matter most now, thorough documentation, timely maintenance, clear communication and proactive compliance, are part of full management, not rent collection.
A real example
Earlier this year a landlord in Kilburn came to us having self-managed a flat for several years without major problems. The tenancy was running smoothly, but on review several safety certificates had lapsed, the last inspection had not been properly recorded, and the rent had been increased informally without the correct procedure. None had caused a problem yet, but each was a gap that could become serious under the new framework. The certificates were renewed, the records brought up to standard and the rent review reset correctly, with the resident kept informed throughout. The owner's comment was that they had not realised how exposed they were until they saw it clearly.
Your next step
The new framework has not made letting harder for well-supported owners. It has made the gap between well-managed and poorly-managed properties more visible and more consequential. Finding out where you stand now is far easier than finding out under pressure. At Paramount, safety compliance, inspection records, rent reviews, resident communication and maintenance follow-up are handled as standard for every managed property, not picked up when something goes wrong. If you are not fully confident everything is in place across your property or portfolio, the most useful first step is a clear picture of where things stand. Book a review call with the team and we will highlight anything that needs attention and give you a plain-English picture of what to do next.
