Blog
Expert guides on tenant rights, rent increases, and the Section 13 process in England.
Tenant counter-evidence pack for tribunal rent challenges under the Renters' Rights Act: the build-it-yourself walkthrough (RRA Day 8, May 2026)
A Form 4A has landed on the doormat and the rent your landlord is proposing feels steep. The First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) is free to apply to, the comparable data is online, and the Renters' Rights Act 2025 has tipped the playing field your way in two important respects - the tribunal can no longer set the rent higher than the landlord proposed, and decisions no longer backdate to the notice. This walkthrough is the tenant-side build-it-yourself counter-evidence pack: the four-section structure (comparables, condition, market context, narrative), where to find Rightmove and Zoopla evidence, the Decent Homes / EPC / damp leverage layer, the deadline calendar, and a clean cover-note template for the bundle.
Awaab's Law for private renters under the Renters' Rights Act: the tenant 14-day mould and damp escalation walkthrough (RRA Day 7, May 2026)
Awaab's Law extends from social housing into the private rented sector under the Renters' Rights Act 2025. When a tenant reports damp or mould the landlord now has strict statutory timescales - emergency hazards within 24 hours, significant hazards investigated within 14 calendar days, written response within 14 days of investigation. This walkthrough is the tenant-side escalation timeline: how to start the clock properly, what evidence to gather, the hazard severity tiers, and what to do when the landlord misses the deadline.
The Decent Homes Standard for private renters under the Renters' Rights Act: the tenant enforcement walkthrough (RRA Day 7, May 2026)
The Renters' Rights Act 2025 extended the Decent Homes Standard from social housing into the private rented sector. Tenants now have a four-prong test (statutory minimum, reasonable repair, modern facilities, thermal comfort) plus a council enforcement ladder running from improvement notice through to civil penalty and Rent Repayment Order. This walkthrough is the tenant-side enforcement guide: what counts as a breach, how to evidence it, when to escalate to environmental health, and what to do if the council drags its feet.
Tenant deposit return after the Renters' Rights Act: the post-tenancy timeline walkthrough (RRA Day 7, May 2026)
When should your deposit hit your account after move-out, what counts as a lawful deduction, and how do you dispute it without going to court? This walkthrough is the tenant-side post-tenancy timeline under the Renters' Rights Act 2025: Day 0 (move-out) through Day 10 (no-dispute return), Day 14 (chase), Day 30 (scheme dispute), the three-scheme adjudication route (DPS, TDS, MyDeposits), and the small claims fallback for unprotected deposits with the 1x-3x penalty.
The new Property Redress Scheme under the Renters' Rights Act: the tenant escalation timeline (RRA Day 6, May 2026)
The Renters' Rights Act 2025 introduced a single mandatory redress scheme for private landlords in England. Every private landlord must join, and tenants can take complaints there for free. This walkthrough is the tenant-side timeline: what the scheme is, the 8-week internal complaint step, when and how to escalate, what evidence to bring, what the scheme can and cannot award, and how it slots in alongside the tribunal, the council, and the courts.
Rent Repayment Orders after the Renters' Rights Act: the expanded grounds tenant claim walkthrough (RRA Day 6, May 2026)
Rent Repayment Orders existed before the Renters' Rights Act but the RRA significantly expanded the grounds and tightened landlord obligations. Tenants can claim back up to 12 months' rent via the First-tier Tribunal where the landlord has committed a qualifying breach. This walkthrough is the tenant-side claim guide: the expanded RRO grounds matrix, the evidence pack you need to gather, how and when to apply, time limits, and what to expect at hearing.
Tenant notice to quit a periodic tenancy after the Renters' Rights Act: the 2-month rule walkthrough (RRA Day 6, May 2026)
Since 1 May 2026, tenants in England can end an assured periodic tenancy by giving 2 months' written notice in line with the rent period (s.11 Renters' Rights Act 2025). Most guidance stops at the headline. This walkthrough is the tenant-side tactical guide: how to time the notice with rent due dates, what counts as written notice, what counts as receipt, what happens if the landlord disputes it, whether you can withdraw, and what to do if you need to leave sooner.
Rent bidding ban: the tenant recognition checklist and report-to-council walkthrough (RRA Day 5, May 2026)
Since 1 May 2026, every advertisement and written offer for a rented property in England must contain a specific asking price, and landlords cannot accept or encourage offers above it. This post is the tenant-side tool for that ban: a recognition checklist for the patterns that count as bidding, a step-by-step report-to-council walkthrough, and what realistically happens after you report.
Pet request template pack: how to ask, the 28-day clock, and the PRS Ombudsman escalation route (post-RRA, May 2026)
Since 1 May 2026, tenants have a new contractual right to request a pet at the rental property under s.16A Housing Act 1988 (inserted by s.11 of the Renters' Rights Act 2025). The landlord must respond in writing within 28 days and cannot unreasonably refuse. This post gives you three plain-text email templates - initial request, 28-day reminder, formal complaint - plus the PRS Ombudsman escalation route if the refusal is unreasonable.
Periodic tenancy default: the tenant transition guide for converted assured shorthold tenancies (RRA Day 5, May 2026)
Most existing assured shorthold tenancies in England converted to assured periodic tenancies at midnight on 1 May 2026. Your fixed term has effectively ended; your notice rights have changed; the landlord's eviction route has changed too. This is the tenant transition guide: what changed at midnight, what your old clauses still mean, the 6-step walkthrough if you want to leave, and the 6-step walkthrough if your landlord wants you to leave.