With the Renters Right Act 2025 coming into force on 1st May 2026 the effect of how minor misdemeanour can create fines for landlords. We discuss how to avoid landlord fines (London 2025)
Unlawful eviction and harassment carry the largest fine of £35000, harassment can be any acts or words which cause harassment alarm and distress to the tenant. Simple acts like changing the locks can be deemed as unlawful eviction.
Minor fines start from £4000 for attempting to let the property for a fixed term, this can include advertising it on a website or on social media (Facebook groups).
Attempting to end the tenancy orally or requesting that it ended orally carries a £6000 fine, recorded conversations will be necessary to proof the offence or even a witness.
Failure to provide the required tenancy information carries a starting fine of £2500, however the greater penalties are attached to the following breaches of the Renters Right Act:
- Serious issue of possession grounds (requesting the property back to sell or move in with no actual intent to do so.
- Non compliance with the Improvement Notice from the Council
- Knowingly providing false information to the landlord database.
You have to ensure you issue an Assured Periodic Tenancy agreement to new tenants from 1st May 2026, this is the easiest way to stay compliance. Always display your rent price when advertising online. Ensure there are no bans on tenants with families, pets or benefits.
Be aware s21 evictions will no longer be an acceptable way to evict tenants after midnight on 30th April, all rent increases must be carried out only once a year with a s13 notice. All tenants named on tenancy agreements must be served a tenant information sheet by 31st May 2026.
FAQ’s – Avoid Landlord Fines
Q – I’m worried about how to serve the tenant information sheet on my tenants?
A – You must post the original copy to the tenants by hand, in the post and ask for proof from Royal Mail or by text message or Email with the actual PDF and not a link to the site.
Q – I don’t want new tenants every month what can I do to stop this?
A – The Assured Periodic Tenancy has two months notice period that the tenant has to provide to the landlord therefore the minimum period a tenant will stay in your property is two month. This will give you enough time to advertise and find new tenants.
Q – I don’t want pets in my property, am I allowed to decline a tenant for this reason?
A – No this is not a valid reason, all requests for pets must be considered by the landlord and the landlord has 28 days to respond to the tenant, the landlord is entitled to decline automatically if their leasehold property has a ban on pets.
Read moreQ – I want to evict my tenant but its 2nd May 2026 can I still serve a S21 notice?
A – No all notices must be served on the tenant by 30th April 2026 and filed at court by 31st July 2026 or they will not go ahead.
Q – The tenant wants to leave after two months can her boyfriend take over the contract?
A – No all tenancies end when a party gives notice to quit, a new tenancy agreement has to be drawn up for the new person.
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