In Knowle, tenants are often renting a lifestyle as much as a house: the High Street, Arden Academy and Knowle CE Primary, and an easy run to Dorridge station or the M42. Many are families who plan to stay for years.
That’s exactly the kind of tenancy the Renters’ Rights Act was designed around. Five months after it took effect on 1 May 2026, here’s what it means for your let this autumn.
Family tenants, family requests
Long-term family tenants are more likely to ask for a pet. You must now consider every request and reply within 28 days. You can’t refuse unreasonably, and you can’t charge a separate pet deposit or pet fee.
Blanket bans are also out. Adverts or decisions that rule out children or tenants receiving benefits aren’t allowed.
Rent reviews: evidence beats averages.
Rent can go up once a year through a Section 13 notice with at least two months’ notice. Tenants can challenge an increase at the tribunal.
The ONS put Solihull’s average rent at £1,279 a month in August 2026, up 3.2%. A four-bedroom house in Knowle can sit well above that, which is why your review needs local comparables rather than a borough figure.
Get a rental value for your Knowle property
The West Midlands registers first.
Knowle landlords are among the first in England to face the new landlord register. The Register your rental property service opens in the West Midlands on 15 December 2026, and every let property in the region must be registered by 14 March 2027. The fee is £65 per property, per year.
You’ll need property, tenancy and safety details ready, so it pays to start gathering them before Christmas.
Don’t forget the basics.
- Existing written tenancies needed the government information sheet by 31 May 2026.
- Re-lets must use a fixed advertised rent, with no bidding and no more than one month’s rent in advance.
- Possession now depends on proving a specific ground, so keep rent records, messages and certificates up to date.
Your October checklist
- Pet request process in place, with replies within 28 days.
- Adverts and decisions free of blanket bans.
- Rent review planned through Section 13, with Knowle comparables.
- Information sheet sent, with proof.
- Register documents gathered before 15 December 2026.
- Deadline in the diary: 14 March 2027.
Let Hunters Knowle handle the detail.
You chose Knowle because good tenants want to live here. With fully managed lettings, Hunters Knowle keeps your tenancy compliant, handles requests and reviews, and gets you registered on time, while you stay in control of the decisions that matter.
Book your free Knowle landlord review
Here to get you there.
