New legal requirements for private renters and landlords

Wednesday, July 15, 2026

Wakefield Council is set to make service changes to meet new legal requirements regarding private sector landlords and tenants.

Updates are needed to the Council’s housing support services in response to the Renters Rights Act. The new legislation changes how the private rental sector is regulated and managed.

“The Renters Rights Act is the biggest change to the private rental sector in a generation.

“Although we know that most landlords provide good quality accommodation in our district, where this isn’t the case, the Renters Right Act means we have to take action more quickly where standards fall short.”

Cllr Andrew Wakefield

Cabinet Member for Strategic Housing, Skills and Business Growth

Historically, the Council would work with landlords to make sure they were compliant with the standards required before escalating to formal enforcement. The new legislative framework means that the Council will have to act sooner and requires earlier formal action and more frequent use of civil penalty notices.

Local authorities will have more powers to investigate issues with property conditions, these include checking minimum standards are met and compelling landlords to address serious hazards in homes, such as inadequate heating and damp and mould problems.

The Council will need to update its policies, procedures, and operational approaches. Later in 2026 the Council will have access to a new national landlord database that is being set up by the Government. The Council has secured government funding to begin implementing the changes.

Other changes include increased maximum penalties and the setting up of an ombudsman for the private sector that requires landlord membership.

The Cabinet meeting will take place on Tuesday 21 July at 5.30pm. The meeting can be watched live or later on the Council’s YouTube channel.

Key parts of the Renters Rights Act:

Abolition of Section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions - removing the ability for landlords to end tenancies without a specified reason
Ending of assured shorthold tenancies - all assured tenancies will move to a periodic model, simplifying tenancy structures
New rent rules – limits are introduced on rent in advance
A ban on rental bidding - landlords and agents must advertise a clear asking rent and are not permitted to request or accept offers above this level.
Antidiscrimination protections – legislative changes limit the ability of landlords to refuse applicants on specific grounds, including receipt of benefits or pet ownership.
A new national database that all private landlords must register on and all Councils will have access to.
A revised Housing Health and Safety Rating System – used by Council’s to assess property conditions and identify hazards.