Landlord news
What changed, and what to do about it
Short explainers on changes that affect landlords in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland: a new deadline, fee, penalty or rule.
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Each one says what changed, who it affects and what to do, with a link to the source so you can read it yourself. Where a decision turns on your own circumstances, that's one for your solicitor or accountant.
29 October 2026 · England, Wales, Northern Ireland
Budget: rental income tax rises again from 2027
The Chancellor has announced a further two-percentage-point rise in tax on rental income from April 2027, on top of a rise announced in November 2025. This affects landlords taxed under the income tax rates set for England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
28 October 2026 · England
Housing Ombudsman tipped to run new landlord redress scheme
The government has indicated the Housing Ombudsman Service will set up and run the new mandatory landlord redress scheme under the Renters' Rights Act. This applies to private landlords in England; no one has to join yet.
26 October 2026 · Scotland
Scotland: tribunal rules for landlord info requests
New rules set out how Scotland's First-tier Tribunal will handle cases where a landlord doesn't give requested information about a registered property, or gives false information. This applies to landlords in Scotland.
23 October 2026 · UK
HMRC: 100 days left to file 2025-26 Self Assessment
HMRC says Self Assessment customers have 100 days to file and pay tax for the 2025 to 2026 tax year. This affects landlords across the UK who report rental income through Self Assessment.
20 October 2026 · England
Social Housing Bill: new eviction and tenancy rules (England)
New amendments to the Social Housing Bill will make it easier to evict abusers from social homes while protecting survivors' tenancies. This applies to council and housing association housing in England, not private rented tenancies.
19 October 2026 · England
Form 3A: check your tenancy agreement before emailing it
Guidance on Form 3A says email service is only safe if the tenancy agreement expressly allows it. Landlords in England relying on Ground 1A or other grounds should check their agreement before serving notice by email.
19 October 2026 · England
PRS Database rollout starts in West Midlands in December
England's new PRS Database will require landlords to register property details and compliance documents, starting with a regional rollout in the West Midlands in December. Industry voices have raised concerns about cost and enforcement.
8 October 2026 · England
Regulator of Social Housing updates guidance for providers
The Regulator of Social Housing has updated its guidance on requirements for different landlord types in England, reflecting the introduction of the Competence and Conduct Standard.
6 October 2026 · Scotland
Scotland: Awaab's Law, WTO fines, succession rules change
Three changes to Scottish private rented sector law took effect on 6 October 2026, covering damp and mould, wrongful termination fines, and tenancy succession on a tenant's death.
6 October 2026 · England
Student HMOs: sign early, or wait to keep Ground 4A?
The Renters' Rights Act creates a new ground for recovering student HMOs, Ground 4A, but only if the tenancy was signed within six months of the move-in date. Landlords in England who let to students now face a timing decision.
6 October 2026 · England
England: New staff qualification rules for social housing providers
The Regulator of Social Housing has published FAQs on its Competence and Conduct Standard. It sets qualification requirements for senior staff at registered providers of social housing in England and does not apply to private landlords.
6 October 2026 · England
Propertymark issues guidance on handling pet requests
Propertymark has published guidance for letting agents on handling tenant requests to keep pets, following changes under the Renters' Rights Act in England. It recommends a case-by-case approach rather than blanket bans.
6 October 2026 · Scotland
Scotland raises wrongful eviction fines to 36 months' rent
From 6 October 2026, Scottish landlords who wrongly end a tenancy face First-tier Tribunal fines of up to 36 months' rent, up from 6. Succession and damp and mould rules also change on the same date.
6 October 2026 · Scotland
Scotland: new prescribed notice forms for PRTs from April 2027
New regulations set out the required forms and content for notices under Scotland's Private Residential Tenancy system, and for tenant referrals to a rent officer. They apply from 1 April 2027.
6 October 2026 · England
Social housing performance measures updated, not for PRS
The Regulator of Social Housing has updated its FAQ on Tenant Satisfaction Measures to reflect a revised Direction that took effect on 1 October 2026. This applies to registered providers of social housing in England, not to private landlords.
28 September 2026 · England
Right to Rent: new checking rules from 1 October
The Home Office has revised its Right to Rent codes for England, effective 1 October. Landlords who use digital verification services must now use a registered provider.
22 September 2026 · UK
5 October deadline to register for Self Assessment
HMRC's deadline to register for Self Assessment for the 2025–26 tax year is 5 October 2026. It affects any landlord who needs to declare rental income and hasn't already registered.
17 September 2026 · England
Telford & Wrekin to require planning permission for new HMOs
Telford and Wrekin Council will bring in an Article 4 Direction from February 2027, meaning landlords will need planning permission to create new HMOs in the borough. A separate licensing proposal for smaller HMOs has been paused.
16 September 2026 · England
England: Renters' Rights Act bans discrimination against tenants on benefits or with children
A government minister has confirmed that the Renters' Rights Act makes it illegal to turn away prospective tenants because they receive benefits or have children. This applies in England.
15 September 2026 · England
Rent increase challenges to move to Valuation Office
The government has announced that decisions on Section 13 rent increase challenges in England will move from the First-tier Tribunal to HMRC's Valuation Office. No date has been set, and the current process continues until the change takes effect.
15 September 2026 · Wales, Scotland
New rules confirm timing for Scottish and Welsh property tax rates
A statutory instrument sets out when separate property income tax rates for Scotland and Wales, introduced under the Finance Act 2026, will start to apply.
13 September 2026 · England
England: New Landlord Registration Service From December 2026
A new national registration service for private landlords in England starts rolling out on 15 December 2026. It affects every landlord letting property in England, region by region, over the following year.
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