The government has published a remarkable 24 guides to aspects of the Renters Rights Act.

They appeared at the end of last week and over the weekend following the announcement that phase one of the act would be implemented from May 1 2026.

From that date, all existing and new private tenancies in England will move onto the new system. All existing assured shorthold tenancies will automatically convert to the new tenancy system. All new tenancies signed on or after this date will follow the new rules, including the cap on rent in advance and the new processes for rent increases and pets.

Any Section 21 notice served before May 1 2026 remains valid until it expires (six months from service) or until the tenant vacates. As set out in the Act, all new tenancies must have a written tenancy agreement that includes specific information to be set out by the government in secondary legislation.

Landlords won’t need to change or re-issue existing written tenancy agreements. Instead, they will need to provide tenants with a copy of this government-produced information sheet, explaining how the reforms may have affected the tenancy.

If an existing tenancy doesn’t currently have a written tenancy agreement — because it is based on a verbal agreement or because it is a protected tenancy — landlords will need to provide the tenant with a written document that covers the required information.

However, the very fact that there are 24 guides show the complexity of this first phase of implementing the Act. In the second half of next year phase two will give details of the mandatory Landlord Ombudsman scheme and the new private rental sector database.

1. Overview for landlords: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/renting-out-your-property-guidance-for-landlords-and-letting-agents/renters-rights-act-an-overview-for-landlords

2. Tenancy agreements overview: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/renting-out-your-property-guidance-for-landlords-and-letting-agents/tenancy-agreements-overview

3. Tenancy types: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/renting-out-your-property-guidance-for-landlords-and-letting-agents/tenancy-types

4. Rental bidding: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/renting-out-your-property-guidance-for-landlords-and-letting-agents/rental-bidding-a-guide-for-landlords

5. Rental discrimination: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/renting-out-your-property-guidance-for-landlords-and-letting-agents/rental-discrimination-a-guide-for-landlords

6. If someone who has children wants to rent your property: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/renting-out-your-property-guidance-for-landlords-and-letting-agents/rental-discrimination-a-guide-for-landlords

7. If someone who receives benefits wants to rent your property: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/renting-out-your-property-guidance-for-landlords-and-letting-agents/if-someone-who-receives-benefits-wants-to-rent-your-property

8. If someone reports you for rental discrimination: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/renting-out-your-property-guidance-for-landlords-and-letting-agents/if-someone-reports-you-for-rental-discrimination

9. Rent payments and deposits: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/renting-out-your-property-guidance-for-landlords-and-letting-agents/rent-payments-and-deposits

10. Fees you can charge as part of a tenancy: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/renting-out-your-property-guidance-for-landlords-and-letting-agents/fees-you-can-charge-as-part-of-a-tenancy

11. Rent increases: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/renting-out-your-property-guidance-for-landlords-and-letting-agents/rent-increases

12. If a tenant wants to keep a pet: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/renting-out-your-property-guidance-for-landlords-and-letting-agents/if-a-tenant-wants-a-pet-to-live-with-them

13. Dealing with anti-social behaviour: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/renting-out-your-property-guidance-for-landlords-and-letting-agents/dealing-with-antisocial-behaviour

14. Resolving issues with your tenant: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/renting-out-your-property-guidance-for-landlords-and-letting-agents/resolving-issues-with-your-tenant

15. Ending a tenancy: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/renting-out-your-property-guidance-for-landlords-and-letting-agents/ending-a-tenancy

16. If your tenant wants to leave: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/renting-out-your-property-guidance-for-landlords-and-letting-agents/if-your-tenant-wants-to-leave

17. Evicting tenants overview: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/renting-out-your-property-guidance-for-landlords-and-letting-agents/evicting-tenants-overview

18. Giving notice to evict tenants: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/renting-out-your-property-guidance-for-landlords-and-letting-agents/giving-notice-to-evict-tenants

19. Standard possession claims: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/renting-out-your-property-guidance-for-landlords-and-letting-agents/standard-possession-claims

20. Giving notice before May 1 2026: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/renting-out-your-property-guidance-for-landlords-and-letting-agents/giving-notice-of-possession-to-tenants-before-1-may-2026

21. Repossessing your privately rented property after May 1 2026: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/renting-out-your-property-guidance-for-landlords-and-letting-agents/repossessing-your-privately-rented-property-on-or-after-1-may-2026

22. Possession hearings and orders: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/renting-out-your-property-guidance-for-landlords-and-letting-agents/possession-hearings-and-orders

23. If tenants do not follow the possession order: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/renting-out-your-property-guidance-for-landlords-and-letting-agents/if-tenants-do-not-follow-the-possession-order

24. Enforcement measures for landlords: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/renting-out-your-property-guidance-for-landlords-and-letting-agents/enforcement-measures-for-landlords