The first-time landlord's guide to 2026
Letting a property in 2026 means starting under the Renters' Rights Act from day one, which is genuinely an advantage: no old habits to unlearn. Here is the sequence.
Before you market
- Permissions: consent to let from your mortgage lender, freeholder consent where leasehold, landlord insurance, and a check for licensing schemes at your council.
- Safety file: gas certificate, EICR, EPC at E or better, smoke alarms every floor, carbon monoxide alarms where required.
Choosing and signing the tenant
Reference properly, complete Right to Rent checks, then issue a compliant assured periodic tenancy agreement with the written tenancy information before signing, plus the How to Rent guide. Take a deposit within the five-week cap and protect it within 30 days with the prescribed information.
Running the tenancy
A rent ledger from month one, written responses to every repair report, 24 hours' notice for any visit, rent increases only through Section 13 once a year, and diarised renewals for gas, electrical and insurance. Income is taxable: register with HMRC for self assessment and keep every invoice.
The one mistake that costs first-time landlords most is a free template written for a legal regime that no longer exists. The whole framework now assumes periodic tenancies: start with the compliance checklist and a compliant agreement.
Create your compliant agreement in 10 minutes
Answer a short questionnaire. Get a Renters' Rights Act-compliant periodic tenancy agreement, written tenancy information, and a landlord compliance checklist, customised to your tenancy.
Start my agreement →Frequently asked questions
What documents does a new landlord need before letting?
Gas safety certificate, EICR, EPC rated E or above, plus the written tenancy information, the How to Rent guide, and deposit prescribed information once a deposit is taken.
Do I need a licence to be a landlord?
Not nationally, but many councils run selective licensing covering ordinary rentals and HMO rules apply to shared houses. Always check your specific council and address.