Landlords are being urged to keep a close eye on a growing list of regulatory deadlines after warnings that missing key compliance requirements could result in fines running into thousands of pounds.
The latest deadline under the Renters’ Rights Act passed on 31 May, with landlords who failed to provide existing tenants with the required information sheet potentially facing penalties of up to £7,000 per tenancy. But industry experts warn that this is just one of several important dates landlords and agents need to be aware of as a wave of new rules and obligations comes into force.
Jack Malnick, co-founder of Landlord Resource, said many landlords are struggling to keep pace with the volume of legislative change, increasing the risk of costly compliance failures. Here are the key dates landlords should have firmly marked in their diaries.
“The most significant deadline landed at the weekend,” he said. “By 31 May, landlords were expected to send every existing tenant across their portfolio an information sheet outlining the new renters’ rights.
“If landlords missed that deadline, the consequence is a fine of up to £7,000 per tenancy. That means a landlord with 10 properties could face £70,000 in penalties for failing to send a PDF.”
Malnick warned that the financial consequences may not end there, pointing to the wider enforcement powers contained within the Renters’ Rights Act.
“Persistent breaches can also trigger a civil penalty of up to £40,000,” he said. “Combined with a Rent Repayment Order covering up to 24 months, the total cost could exceed £80,000.”
He added that many landlords risk falling foul of the rules not through deliberate non-compliance, but because of confusion, missed communications or administrative oversights during a period of significant change for the sector.
Renters’ Rights Act Timeline: What’s changing and what new deadlines landlords and agents need to know?
31st July 2026 – Pending notices backstop
Old Section 21 notices and Section 8 notices must hit court by this date or lapse.
Late 2026 – Private Rented Sector (PRS) database launch
With a date in late 2026 or early 2027 still to be confirmed, landlords will be required to register themselves, their properties, and their compliance status on an area-by-area basis.
Q4 2028 – PRS Database + Ombudsman
Mandatory landlord and property registration before letting or advertising will be introduced. Failure to register to the new PRS Database will lead to £7,000 civil fine, and £40,000 repeat fine.
1 October 2030 – EPC C Requirement
While this deadline looks distant, it is one to act on soon. Under Criterion D of the ‘Decent Homes Standard’, reasonable thermal comfort is required for properties, and anything below EPC C cannot meet the standard.
2035 – Full Decent Homes Standard
All the criteria laid out by the PRS Database must be met at this point. This covers elements such as properties being free from hazards, reasonable state of repair, core facilities and services being present, reasonable thermal comfort, and homes being free from damp or mould.
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