In October 2026, Sutton Coldfield landlords should review the Phase 1 tenancy reforms that took effect on 1 May 2026. Whether you own a two-bed terrace in Boldmere, a semi in Erdington or a detached family home in Four Oaks, October is a useful point to check current compliance and prepare for the next phase.
This isn’t a minor update to tweak a clause or two. It’s the biggest shake-up to English tenancy law in a generation. The good news? If you act now, you can stay fully compliant, protect your investment and continue letting go with confidence.
Here’s your practical, step-by-step checklist.
A record-breaking September for Hunters Sutton Coldfield
At Hunters Sutton Coldfield, we work with landlords across the whole area, from Boldmere and Walmley to neighbouring Erdington, Great Barr, Pheasey and Shortheath. Led by Lettings Manager Sharon McEvoy, our lettings team knows the local market, the local stock and the local tenant demand.
That knowledge is showing in the results. September 2026 was Sharon’s best-ever September, with 17 lets agreed in a single month. That’s 17 homes matched with the right tenants and 17 landlords whose properties are now let and earning.
The achievement matters to every landlord in the area, not just our team. It shows that well-presented, fairly priced rental homes in Sutton Coldfield are still letting quickly, even as the market adjusts to the Renters’ Rights Act. Congratulations to Sharon on a fantastic month.
As Lettings Manager, Sharon makes sure her team is fully up to date with the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 and can guide you through every change, from portal registration to rent review notices and Section 8 advice. Whether you let a single semi in Wylde Green or manage a portfolio across B73, B74 and B23, we make compliance straightforward.
What the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 actually means for you
Before the checklist, it’s worth understanding the four big changes that affect every landlord in Sutton Coldfield right now.
Section 21 is gone.
No-fault evictions are abolished. You can no longer ask a tenant to leave simply because you want your property back or because a fixed term has ended. All evictions must now be based on a valid legal ground under Section 8 – such as rent arrears, antisocial behaviour or a genuine intention to sell or move back in.
This affects landlords across every neighbourhood, from Walmley and Mere Green to Kingstanding and Great Barr.
Private assured tenancies are now periodic.
Most existing private assured shorthold tenancies were converted to assured periodic tenancies in May. New private assured tenancies are periodic, with no fixed end date, and tenants can generally give two months’ notice. Other tenancy types and statutory exemptions need separate checks.
Rent increases are now restricted.
You can only increase rent once every 12 months. You must give tenants a formal two-month written notice using a prescribed form. Tenants also have the right to challenge any increase they consider above market rate through a first-tier tribunal.
The new property register launches in December.
The PRS database service opens in December 2026. For covered assured or regulated tenancies in the West Midlands, registration must be completed by March 2027. The annual fee is £65 per property; October is preparation time, rather than an already-missed registration deadline.
Your Sutton Coldfield landlord compliance checklist
Work through each of these steps. Tick them off one by one.
1. Prepare for the government property register.
In October, gather landlord and property details, rent and occupancy information, and the relevant safety records. You will need a GOV.UK One Login when the service launches. Follow the official registration instructions and keep entries current.
Check the deadline by the property’s location, rather than your home address. Birmingham-area properties fall within the West Midlands rollout; councils can begin registration enforcement after the regional deadline.
2. Review your tenancy agreements.
Your existing fixed-term agreements no longer apply in the same way. Check every tenancy you hold – whether it’s a flat in Wylde Green, a terraced house in Erdington or a larger detached home in Four Oaks – and make sure you understand its current status under the new Assured Periodic Tenancy framework.
If you’re unsure, speak to a letting agent with local expertise before taking any action.
3. Update your rent increase process.
If you’re planning a rent review, stop and check the rules first.
You must use the correct prescribed notice form. You must give at least two months’ written notice. And you can only do this once in any 12-month period. Getting this wrong could make your notice invalid – and delay any increase by months.
4. Understand the new Section 8 grounds.
For private assured tenancies, use the applicable Section 8 ground when seeking possession. Selling or moving in requires four months’ notice and first-year tenant protection; if the tenant remains after notice, a court order and lawful enforcement are required.
Landlords in Sutton Coldfield – whether managing properties in Boldmere, Shenstone or Mere Green – should familiarise themselves with these grounds now, not when a problem arises.
5. Check your EPC and safety certificates.
Check the property’s EPC and compliance with the current minimum band E requirement, unless a valid exemption applies. Review gas safety records where required, electrical inspection deadlines and smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. Future energy standards should be checked separately against official implementation guidance.
These remain legal requirements and form part of the evidence base if you ever need to rely on Section 8.
6. Give tenants the required written information.
For new private assured tenancies, provide the written tenancy information required by the new rules, alongside applicable EPC, gas safety and deposit protection information. For existing tenancies, check the Information Sheet or wholly oral tenancy written-information requirements and the May deadline. Do not treat the old How to Rent guide as the new written-information requirement.
Getting this right from day one protects your position if you ever need to use Section 8 grounds later.
7. Review your deposit protection.
Deposits must still be protected in a government-approved scheme within 30 days of receipt. With tenancies now rolling periodically, make sure your deposit protection certificates are up to date and that tenants have received the prescribed information.
What this means for landlords with larger portfolios
If you manage multiple properties across Sutton Coldfield – perhaps a mix of houses in Kingstanding, flats in Wylde Green and family homes in Four Oaks or Streetly – the administrative load has increased significantly.
Prepare a registration entry for each covered property ahead of its regional deadline. Each rent increase needs the correct Section 13 notice, and every tenancy should be reviewed under the applicable framework.
Landlords with portfolios should consider working with a professional letting agent who can manage compliance across all properties, track notice periods and handle tribunal processes if they arise.
How Hunters Sutton Coldfield can help
At Hunters Sutton Coldfield, we work with landlords across the whole area – from Boldmere and Walmley to Erdington, Great Barr and beyond. We know the local market, the local stock and the local tenant demand.
Our team is fully up to date with the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 and can help you navigate every change – from portal registration to rent review notices to Section 8 advice.
Whether you’re a single-property landlord letting a semi in Wylde Green or you manage a portfolio across B73, B74 and B23, Hunters is here to make compliance straightforward.
Don’t wait until something goes wrong
Phase 1 tenancy reforms are in force in October. Penalties depend on the particular breach and can reach £40,000 for serious or repeat offences. The West Midlands database registration deadline is still ahead; accurate paperwork remains essential for possession proceedings.
Landlords who use October to prepare, review and update their records will be better placed for the December launch and the March registration deadline.
Book a free valuation today to assess your property’s achievable rent in October 2026. Get in touch with Hunters Sutton Coldfield to discuss tenancy documents, registration preparation and management support. Let’s work together to make your rental a success. Here to get you there.
