Huge shake-up for North Devon rental sector – are you prepared?

There is less than a month until a major shake-up of private rented homes becomes law and North Devon Council is calling on landlords, letting agents and tenants to ensure they are prepared.

The Renters’ Rights Act comes into effect on May 1 and it contains a raft of measures to give tenants more security and a fairer deal while setting out clear expectations of private landlords.

The big changes to the law include the end of Section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions, new measures to stop rental bidding and rental discrimination, plus limits on the amount of rent in advance that landlords can request.

Locally, North Devon Council is calling on landlords in particular to make sure they know what they need to do under the new rules.

For tenancies that started before May 1, 2026, landlords must provide their tenants with the official Renters’ Rights Act Information Sheet 2026 by May 31.

This is a legal requirement and must be completed on time. The information sheet can be accessed online at www.northdevon.gov.uk/renters-rights-act and can be issued now.

READ MORE: North Devon tenants and landlords urged to prepare for 'major' rental reforms

For tenancies starting on or after May 1, 2026, landlords must provide tenants with specific information about their tenancy in writing. This information can be included within a tenancy agreement.

To support landlords in preparing updated agreements, the government has published guidance setting out what must be included. This can be found online at www.northdevon.gov.uk/renters-rights-act

In later phases more reforms will include the introduction of a national Private Rented Sector (PRS) Database, where landlords will be required to register their properties, and a new PRS Ombudsman to help resolve disputes and raise standards.

Councillor Graham Bell, lead member for housing at North Devon Council, said: “The Renters’ Rights Act marks a major shift in how renting works across England.

“By making sure tenants receive the right information and preparing early, landlords can help ensure the move to the new system is smooth and straightforward when the rules come into force.”

Landlords can access the official information sheet and view the full implementation timeline through the Government’s implementation roadmap at www.northdevon.gov.uk/renters-rights-act

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