The May 31 deadline: Is your London property compliant with the Renter’s Rights Act?

England’s rental market is going through its biggest shake-up in forty years. Following the first phase of the Renters’ Rights Act on May 1st, landlords are now staring down another major deadline this weekend on May 31st. This deadline puts an end to the grace period to complete the UK periodic tenancies transition, shifting the existing leases into rolling agreements.

Why the May 31 deadline matters for overseas landlords​

If you’re an overseas investor, losing Section 21 changes everything. In the past, this “no-fault” eviction rule gave landlords a predictable safety net to manage their property across the globe. Now, with the safety net gone and all fixed-term tenancies turning into rolling monthly contracts, you need to be much more hands-on.

​Dealing with different time zones and complex UK legal changes makes it incredibly easy to miss tight deadlines, leaving your investment exposed.

Key areas landlords should review before the deadline​

To ensure your property meets the new standards, you need to review your paperwork. Here is exactly what you should check:

​Official fact sheets: You must hand out a government-approved Renter’s Rights Act Information sheet to any tenant who has an existing written agreement

​Fixing verbal agreements: If you currently have an informal or verbal agreement with a tenant, you need to replace it with a formal, compliant Written Statement of Terms.

​The Student Rule: If you want to rent to students and use the special exemption (known as Ground 4A) to get your property back at the end of the school year, you must give them clear, written notice beforehand.

Critical risks of non-compliance​

Missing these updates carries real consequences that hit your wallet and your control over the property. Local councils can hand out fines of up to £7,000 for each non-compliant tenancy. Even worse, if you cannot prove you handed over the official paperwork, you lose the legal right to use Section 8 notices. This means you cannot legally evict a tenant or reclaim your property if things turn out wrong, effectively locking you out of your own investment.

What investors should do before May 31​

1. Download and serve: Issue the official 2026 Government information sheet to all current tenants

2. Secure proof: Maintain verifiable evidence of the service, such as read-receipted emails or signed acknowledgements

3. Audit lease clauses: Ensure outdated rent-review or fixed-term clauses are no longer being enforced

We understand that staying ahead of these changes takes a lot of time and effort, but you do not have to do it alone. At Benham and Reeves, we take the stress out of the Renters’ Rights Act by managing all the paperwork and legal updates for you.

​Our team makes sure your tenants receive the right documents, checks your current agreements to make sure they are compliant, and handles the new rent adjustment rules effectively. We protect your investment and handle the details regularly so your property stays all compliant without the headache.