Renters' Rights — what to do before the commencement date
A practical checklist for landlords preparing portfolios for Section 21 abolition and the move to a single periodic tenancy regime.
Property Law Updates · 12 April 2026 · Costa & Silva Team
The Renters’ Rights regime moves the UK private rental sector to a single periodic tenancy structure and removes Section 21 as a possession route. The commencement date matters less than the work needed before it.
What changes
- All assured shorthold tenancies become assured periodic tenancies
- Section 21 is abolished — possession routes become Section 8 grounds (expanded) and Renters’ Rights-equivalent provisions
- Fixed terms are removed in their current form; rolling periodic becomes the default
What to do now
- Audit every tenancy agreement against the new structure
- Review rent-review mechanisms; the existing Section 13 process is widened
- Confirm grounds-based possession evidence is being captured on every tenancy
- Update tenant onboarding processes to reflect the new regime
- Engage your insurer on rent guarantee policy changes
Where Costa & Silva helps
Our Property Compliance Management service delivers a per-asset readiness assessment, a remediation plan with cost and programme, and the tenancy-agreement migration. Most landlords with five-plus units will need this work sequenced over six to nine months.
Speak to Costa & Silva.
Book a 30-minute consultation, register as an investor, or send us your portfolio for review.