Blog
Expert guides on tenant rights, rent increases, and the Section 13 process in England.
Council tax under the Renters' Rights Act periodic-by-default regime: when does the bill move? The tenant walkthrough (May 2026)
Historically, a tenant on a statutory periodic tenancy who moved out before the notice end date stopped being liable for council tax the day they vacated - the empty-property charge fell on the landlord. The Renters' Rights Act 2025 has reversed that. Tenants are now liable for council tax until the end of the notice period they served, even if they leave the property earlier. This walkthrough covers the new rule, the timing maths, the leave-early scenario that catches tenants out, and how to evidence the vacate date if the council pushes back.
Successor tenancy after the death of a joint tenant under the Renters' Rights Act 2025: the surviving tenant's walkthrough (May 2026)
When a joint tenant dies, the law of survivorship takes over - the surviving joint tenant becomes the sole tenant automatically. No new tenancy, no Form 6A, no eviction. But landlords and letting agents routinely test this rule, asking the surviving tenant to "sign a new agreement" or hinting that they might need to leave. This walkthrough covers the survivorship rule, the four common landlord-dispute scenarios under the new Renters' Rights Act regime, and the two short letters that close those scenarios down.