The Renters’ Rights Act is no longer something landlords are preparing for in theory.
The main Phase 1 tenancy reforms came into force on 1 May 2026, and if you own rental property in Chesterfield – whether that’s a terraced two-bedroom home in Holmewood, a family property in Wingerworth or a portfolio across S43 and S44 – the framework for most private assured tenancies has changed.
This is a practical checklist for what landlords should be doing now.
What changed on 1 May 2026
Two of the biggest changes affect possession and tenancy structure.
Section 21 is gone
Section 21 no-fault eviction has been abolished for relevant private-sector assured tenancies.
Landlords can no longer simply use Section 21 to recover possession without relying on a statutory ground.
Possession now generally requires an appropriate Section 8 ground.
Those grounds include circumstances such as rent arrears, anti-social behaviour, a genuine intention to sell, or a landlord intending to occupy the property, depending on the facts and legal requirements.
Different grounds have different conditions, notice periods and evidential requirements.
That makes record-keeping increasingly important.
Most assured tenancies are now periodic
The vast majority of relevant existing assured shorthold tenancies moved onto the assured periodic system on 1 May 2026.
New relevant private assured tenancies also generally operate on a periodic basis rather than under the traditional fixed-term AST model.
Tenants can generally end the tenancy by giving two months’ notice.
Landlords seeking possession must rely on the correct statutory ground and procedure.
If you have not reviewed your tenancy-management process since May, now is a sensible time to do so.
Chesterfield Borough Council’s civil-penalty framework
Chesterfield Borough Council now publishes a 2026 private-sector housing civil-penalty policy explaining how it calculates and applies financial penalties.
The council’s policy follows national statutory guidance and takes account of factors such as:
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The seriousness of the breach.
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The landlord’s culpability and previous record.
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Harm caused or risk of harm.
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The need to punish the offence.
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The need to deter repeat breaches.
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The need to deter other landlords from similar conduct.
Under the national Renters’ Rights Act enforcement framework, certain breaches can attract civil penalties of up to £7,000, while specified serious or repeat housing offences can attract penalties of up to £40,000.
That does not mean every lower-level breach automatically produces a £7,000 fine or every serious case automatically produces £40,000.
The exact penalty depends on the offence, circumstances, evidence and the council’s enforcement policy.
For Chesterfield landlords, the main takeaway is straightforward: compliance and accurate records matter.
Your compliance checklist: What to do now
1. Check your Section 13 rent-increase process
Rent increases for relevant assured periodic tenancies generally need to follow the revised Section 13 process.
That means:
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Increases are generally limited to once every 12 months.
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At least two months’ notice is normally required.
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The prescribed form must be used.
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The proposed rent should reflect the open market.
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Tenants can challenge a proposed increase at the First-tier Tribunal.
Old contractual rent-review clauses cannot be used to bypass the statutory process.
If you are planning a rent increase, keep evidence of current comparable properties and make sure the notice is completed and served correctly.
2. Review your applicant process
The Renters’ Rights Act introduced new rules around tenant selection.
Landlords and agents must not unlawfully discriminate against applicants because they have children or receive benefits.
Rental bidding is also banned.
You should advertise one clear rent and must not encourage or accept a higher offer above that advertised figure.
Rent-in-advance rules have also changed.
After the tenancy agreement is signed and before the tenancy starts, landlords generally cannot require more than one month’s rent in advance where rent is payable monthly.
If your current process still asks for several months upfront as standard, review it now.
3. Prepare for the PRS Database rollout
The Private Rented Sector Database forms part of Phase 2 of the Renters’ Rights Act.
The government plans to begin its regional rollout from late 2026.
Registration will become mandatory as the relevant regulations and rollout apply.
That means Chesterfield landlords should prepare their records now rather than assume registration is already universally live.
Useful information to organise includes:
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Property addresses.
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Ownership details.
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Landlord contact information.
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Gas safety records where applicable.
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Electrical safety information.
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EPC documentation.
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Basic occupancy and property details.
If you hold several properties through personal ownership, companies or joint ownership, make sure your records clearly show who owns and manages each property.
4. Prepare for the Landlord Ombudsman
The Private Rented Sector Landlord Ombudsman is also part of Phase 2, but mandatory membership is expected later.
The government currently expects compulsory membership in 2028, once the scheme has been established and scaled.
Landlords therefore do not need to describe Ombudsman membership as an existing September 2026 obligation.
Preparation is still sensible.
Create a clear complaints procedure showing:
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How tenants raise concerns.
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Who responds.
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Target response times.
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How complaints are escalated.
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What records are retained.
Good complaint handling is useful regardless of when the Ombudsman requirement formally starts.
The future energy-efficiency standard
Energy efficiency is another important issue, but the current position is different from the older phased EPC C proposals.
The government has confirmed a single compliance date of 1 October 2030 for the future higher minimum energy-efficiency standard in privately rented homes.
There is no separate earlier deadline for new tenancies.
The future framework is also more nuanced than simply requiring today’s EPC Band C.
Properties will need to meet a C-grade against the new fabric-performance metric and either the heating-system or smart-readiness metric, unless a valid exemption or transitional arrangement applies.
The government has also confirmed a planned £10,000 cost cap per property.
Until the new rules take effect, landlords should continue following the current MEES requirements.
What Chesterfield landlords should do about EPCs now
There is no need to panic, but early planning makes sense.
For each rental property:
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Check the current EPC.
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Review the recommended improvements.
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Assess the building’s actual condition.
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Look for damp, ventilation or repair issues before installing insulation.
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Obtain property-specific quotations.
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Keep invoices and certificates for completed work.
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Monitor the final 2030 implementation rules.
Typical measures may include loft insulation, appropriate wall insulation, glazing improvements, heating controls or low-carbon heating where suitable.
The right measures depend on the individual property.
Do not assume every older Chesterfield terrace needs the same work.
Keep local-market claims realistic
The latest ONS figures show Chesterfield’s average private rent reached £758 per month in August 2026, up 2.7% year-on-year.
The average house price was £203,000 in July 2026, up 4.7% from a year earlier.
These are Chesterfield-wide averages.
They should not be used as guaranteed rents, yields or property values for individual homes in Holmewood, Brimington, Wingerworth, Staveley or surrounding areas.
A professional rental assessment should consider the exact property, street, size, condition, furnishing and competing supply.
Keep your property file up to date
A reliable property file should include:
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Tenancy terms.
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Government information supplied to the tenant.
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Deposit-protection records.
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Gas safety documentation where relevant.
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Electrical safety documentation.
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EPC information.
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Inventory and check-in evidence.
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Repair and maintenance records.
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Rent history.
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Important tenant correspondence.
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Any notices served.
If a rent dispute, possession case, complaint or council enquiry arises later, having a clear record can make a significant difference.
Review possession procedures
Section 21 should no longer appear in your standard workflow for relevant assured tenancies.
Before serving any possession notice, check:
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Which Section 8 ground applies.
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Whether it is mandatory or discretionary.
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What evidence is required.
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The correct notice period.
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Whether any restrictions apply after possession.
Do not reuse an old notice template without checking that it remains legally current.
Check local licensing and HMO requirements
The Renters’ Rights Act does not replace existing HMO licensing, planning or housing-safety rules.
If you operate shared accommodation or HMOs in Chesterfield or surrounding districts, check the exact property against current local-authority requirements.
Remember that areas such as Staveley, Bolsover, Clowne and Creswell can sit within different local-authority boundaries.
The correct council should therefore be identified before relying on licensing or enforcement information.
What is coming next
The simplified national timeline is:
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1 May 2026: Main Phase 1 tenancy reforms came into force.
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From late 2026: Regional PRS Database rollout begins.
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2028: Mandatory Landlord Ombudsman membership is expected.
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1 October 2030: New private rented energy-efficiency standard is due to apply.
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Later Phase 3: Awaab’s Law and the Decent Homes Standard will be extended to the PRS, with implementation dates subject to consultation.
Not every future requirement is already live.
The safest approach is to comply with today’s rules while preparing sensibly for the later phases.
How Hunters Chesterfield can help
Hunters Chesterfield works with landlords across Chesterfield and surrounding areas, from single-property landlords to larger portfolio owners.
The team can discuss your current rental position, property-management options and practical tenancy administration under the post-May 2026 framework.
Where legal or technical advice is needed, landlords should also use appropriately qualified specialists.
Ready to review your Chesterfield rental?
If you have not reviewed your property since the May 2026 reforms took effect, now is a sensible time to check your tenancy documentation, rent-review process, compliance records and current rental value.
Book a free rental review with Hunters Chesterfield for a property-specific assessment.
Or get in touch with the Hunters Chesterfield team to discuss your property, portfolio or management options.
Here to get you there.
