Landlord
A landlord is the person or organisation that lets a residential property to a tenant in return for rent. In practice, being a landlord is less about “owning a place” and more about running a regulated service, including providing a safe home, setting clear terms in a tenancy agreement, protecting the tenant’s rights, and keeping the paperwork and standards straight.
Your baseline legal duties include maintaining and repairs to the structure and key installations. Section 11 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 places repairing obligations on landlords in most shorter residential lets, covering the structure and exterior and installations for water, gas, electricity, sanitation and heating. If you need access for property inspection or repairs, you must act reasonably and respect quiet enjoyment. The law anticipates at least 24 hours’ written notice for certain entries, but access still should be agreed wherever possible.
In England, you must also meet common compliance expectations around safety and onboarding. For example providing a valid gas safety certificate, EICR, and EPC, handling a tenancy deposit correctly including deposit protection scheme where required, and checking a tenant’s right to rent.
From 1 May 2026, the Renters’ Rights Act changes how landlords operate in England. Assured Shorthold Tenancy (AST) and Section 21 notice “no-fault” eviction end, and most tenancies move onto an open-ended periodic tenancy as an assured tenancy. Possession relies on Section 8 notice using specific grounds for possession. Rent changes are standardised through Section 13 notice with limits, including frequency and notice, set out in government guidance. The Act also tightens rules around discrimination, including against applicants with children or on benefits (DSS), strengthens how you must handle pet requests, and introduces a new Ombudsman and Private Rented Sector Database on a phased timeline.
Note: these reforms apply to England. Rules differ in Scotland, Wales (Rent Smart Wales) and Northern Ireland.
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