Ready, set, let's go! - Renters' Rights - May Update 2

1. Inform your tenants – the “Information Sheet” 

URGENT - EXISTING ONLY For any residential tenancies created before 1 May 2026, you must give your tenants the government’s “Information Sheet” – containing written information for tenants about the changes made by the RRA before 31 May 2026. (Schedule 6 paragraph 7(2) of the RRA.) 

Please see our article: Government Information Sheet Available. Note the tight deadline, the specific way in which this information must be provided and the fines that can be imposed if you fail to comply. Please act quickly to ensure this requirement is fulfilled. 

2. Inform your tenants – the “Written Information” 

NEW ONLY For any residential tenancies created after 1 May 2026, you must give your tenants written information about the key terms of their tenancy before they sign any new tenancy agreement. (S.12 of the RRA.) 

The written information that must be provided is set out in the Schedule to The Assured Tenancies (Private Rented Sector) (Written Statement of Terms etc and information Sheet) (England) Regulations 2026. TMCP has a template assured periodic tenancy (APT) available which already includes the required written information and the charity law and Methodist statements. Please ask us for a copy (contact TMCP). 

3. Abolition of assured shorthold tenancies (ASTs), fixed terms and Section 21 Notices 
 

From now on, tenancies will continue indefinitely unless the tenant chooses to leave (serving two months’ notice at any time) or you as landlord are able to prove a statutory ground for possession. This means that while you can decide to enter into a tenancy, the duration of that tenancy is largely out of your hands. 

Methodist Managing Trustees would need to be satisfied that letting out the property indefinitely is in the best interests of the charity and is the best use of the property for the charity’s purposes. 

Consider if the Managing Trustees may need to end the tenancy in the future relying on any prior notice grounds e.g. to house a minister of religion (Ground 5). If so, ensure that prior notice is served before the tenancy agreement is entered into to safeguard the charity’s ability to use such prior notice ground. 

4. New process to regain possession of charity property 
 

Instead of being able to serve two months’ notice on your tenant in order to regain possession of charity property, the new regime requires you establish and prove a specific ground and often involves longer notice periods e.g. four months’ if you intend to sell the property.  

Methodist Managing Trustees would need to ensure the notice was correctly served, they were fully compliant with the obligations imposed on landlords under the legislation and allow time for the court timetable and ultimate enforcement action if the tenant(s) refuse to leave. There are a number of hurdles that could defeat a possession claim, and care would need to be taken and appropriate advice obtained. (Please contact TMCP for guidance on use of the legal expenses cover under your policy and the Panel Solicitors.) 

Methodist Managing Trustees will not want to underestimate the added complexity of the process or the time this could take when considering a sale or the need to use the property to house a minister or for a Local Church or Circuit project. Commentators argue that this new process assumes that the courts will need to be involved. 

5. Increased regulatory burden 

Methodist Managing Trustees need to familiarise themselves with the increased legislative burden placed on landlords under the RRA and ensure they feel able to commit to letting out the property indefinitely on this basis. 
 

Please refer to the Residential Tenancy (Landlord) Checklist for a summary of the points and the article: The Renters Rights Act 2025 is here - What do you need to do? for essential steps to take to comply with the new legislation. 

More detail is awaited from the Government on the landlord registration scheme and TMCP will consider this and its implication for Methodist property. 

6. Advertised rent 

Under the new legislation, an “advertised price” has to be included when the property is advertised for let in writing. Higher offers cannot be encouraged or accepted. 
 

It is very important to speak to your agent and explain that they will need to be able to confirm that; “the agreed rent is set at no less than market rent” so that you can set the advertised price at an appropriate level. 

7. s.13 Notices and Market rent 
 

While any rent review provisions in existing tenancy agreements will now be disregarded, it remains possible to increase the rent annually in line with market rate.
  

To ensure that rent continues to be set at no less than market rate throughout the course of a tenancy, Methodist Managing Trustees must contact their agent annually to check whether the rent being charged continues to be market rate. If their agent advises that the market rent has gone up, steps will need to be taken to increase the rent in accordance with the new statutory process. Please refer to the Government’s updated guidance for landlords and the section on rent increases here. There are also links to the new Form 4A to be served on your tenant two months before the proposed increase. A proposed increase is subject to challenge by the tenant if they argue it is higher than open market rent. If challenged, any new rent will only be payable from the date of determination by the judicial body which resolves these disputes (the first-tier tribunal). 
 

Methodist Managing Trustees are encouraged to diarise an annual check so that they can ensure the rent charged under the tenancy continues to be no less than market rate. TMCP can discuss the Methodist requirements on rental levels with you if you are unsure. 

8. Associated charity law and Methodist law and policy requirements 
 

Please bear in mind that the usual charity law and Methodist law and policy requirements will still need to be fulfilled before any new tenancy is entered into. (You can find a summary in the Residential Lease Checklist.) 
 

Please contact TMCP so that we can assist you and your agents in complying with the additional requirements before letting Methodist charity property and you need to ensure that TMCP has confirmed that all the requirements have been met before entering into the tenancy. We have colleagues who concentrate on residential tenancies to help turn these around quickly for you. 

9. Ongoing charity law and Methodist law and policy requirements 

Given the situation highlighted at point 3 above, please be aware of the ongoing requirements placed on you as Methodist Managing Trustees during the course of the tenancy. Although there is no longer a best practice requirement to renew a tenancy at the end of the fixed term, Managing Trustees still need to ensure that the charity law and Methodist law and policy requirements are kept up to date. 
 

An annual check would be a good opportunity to: 

• Consider whether letting continues to be in the best interests of the charity  
• Review whether rent continues to be in line with market rate; 
• Confirm the relationship between the tenant and the Managing Trustee body and whether there are any connected issues; and 
• Confirm that the statutory requirements continue to be fulfilled. 

Please bear in mind that consent also needs to be renewed every two years. 

TMCP will be in touch about the process being adopted but, in the meantime, please contact us when your tenancies reach their anniversary and we will help you to ensure that the charity law and Methodist law and policy requirements side is all up to date.