Starting a New Tenancy in 2026 — The Complete Guide for Private Landlords in England

 If you set up your last tenancy before May 2026, almost everything has changed. The Renters' Rights Act 2025 came into full force on 1 May 2026 — and it represents the biggest overhaul of private renting law in England for thirty years.

Fixed-term tenancies no longer exist. The documents you must provide have changed. There are new rules on advertising, rent increases, pets and tenant discrimination. Get any of it wrong and you face civil penalties of up to £7,000.

This comprehensive guide walks you through every step of setting up a new tenancy correctly under the new rules — from the day you decide to let the property to the day your tenant moves in and beyond.

Inside you'll find: a full breakdown of what's changed and what it means in practice · the new Assured Periodic Tenancy explained · every document you must provide and the consequence of missing each one · tenant referencing best practice · the new rules on advertising, pets and discrimination · rent increase rules and Form 4A · move-in day checklist · and your ongoing legal obligations as a landlord.

Written by a private landlord with real experience of setting up tenancies — not a legal textbook, but a plain-English guide to what you actually need to do.