Landlords: news and advice
Our latest landlords news and advice for London and Hertfordshire.
Landlords · 17 October 2026 · 7 min read
Legionella risk assessment for landlords: what HSE says you must do
HSE says a landlord must assess the risk of legionella for tenants, but the assessment can be simple and the landlord can do it. HSE also says the law does not require a legionella test certificate. The steps, the temperatures, empty homes and what changed in 2026.
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Landlords · 17 October 2026 · 7 min read
Furniture fire safety regulations for landlords: what a furnished let needs
The 1988 furniture fire safety regulations apply to the sofas, beds and mattresses a landlord supplies in a furnished let, new or second-hand. Here is what is covered, what the label must say, who enforces it and what changed on 30 October 2025.
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Landlords · 17 October 2026 · 7 min read
Tenant Fees Act: what landlords and agents can charge in 2026
A landlord or agent in England can ask a tenant only for the payments the Tenant Fees Act 2019 lists. Covers the caps, the holding deposit rules, what changed on 1 May 2026, the penalties and a checklist.
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Landlords · 17 October 2026 · 7 min read
Tenancy deposit protection: what landlords must do within 30 days
A landlord in England must protect a cash deposit in an approved scheme and give the tenant the prescribed information within 30 days. Here is the cap, the penalty of one to three times the deposit, the effect on possession since 1 May 2026, and a dated example.
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Landlords · 17 October 2026 · 7 min read
Right to rent checks for landlords in 2026: what to do and when
Before a tenancy agreement is entered into, a landlord in England must check every adult occupier's right to rent. This guide covers the three routes, eVisas and share codes, record keeping, the £5,000 to £20,000 penalties and the 1 October 2026 changes.
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Landlords · 17 October 2026 · 7 min read
Making Tax Digital for landlords: thresholds, dates and what to do
Making Tax Digital for Income Tax began on 6 April 2026 for landlords with qualifying income over £50,000. The limit falls to £30,000 in April 2027 and £20,000 in April 2028. It is gross rent, not profit. A worked example is included.
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Landlords · 17 October 2026 · 7 min read
Landlord entering a rented property: notice period and access rules
GOV.UK says a landlord has to give at least 24 hours’ notice and visit at a reasonable time. That is a minimum, not a right to enter once the notice runs out. Inspections, safety checks, refusals and the harassment penalties since 1 May 2026.
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Landlords · 17 October 2026 · 8 min read
Smoke and carbon monoxide alarm rules for rented homes: a landlord’s checklist
In England a landlord must fit a smoke alarm on each storey and a carbon monoxide alarm in any living space with a fixed combustion appliance, check them on day one of a new tenancy and fix faults once told. Here is what counts, what councils can do and what changed in 2026.
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Landlords · 17 October 2026 · 7 min read
Can a landlord refuse pets in 2026? What the Renters’ Rights Act says
Since 1 May 2026 a tenant on an assured tenancy in England can ask in writing to keep a pet, and the landlord must answer in writing, usually within 28 days. Here are the valid reasons to refuse, what cannot be charged, and a dated example.
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Landlords · 17 October 2026 · 8 min read
How long is a landlord gas safety certificate valid in England?
A landlord gas safety record is valid for 12 months, and a check in the two months before the deadline keeps the original date. Here is who gets a copy and when, what the record must show, what to do if a tenant will not give access, and a dated example.
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Landlords · 17 October 2026 · 8 min read
Landlord EICR rules in England: 5-year test, 28-day repairs, £40,000 cap
Landlords in England must have a rented home's fixed electrics tested by a qualified person at least every five years and give tenants the report. Here is what the codes mean, the 28-day repair deadline, the £40,000 cap and two 2026 changes.
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Landlords · 16 October 2026 · 8 min read
Raising the rent under the Renters’ Rights Act: what landlords can do
Since 1 May 2026 a landlord can raise the rent of an assured periodic tenancy only by a Section 13 notice on Form 4A. Here is how the notice, the 52-week rule and a tenant’s challenge at the tribunal work, with a dated example.
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