The Renters' Rights Act Is Coming. Is Your Documentation Ready?
Section 21 is gone. The Decent Homes Standard applies to you. Deposit disputes are harder to win. Landlords who can't evidence property condition will be exposed. FreshRent gives you the documentation you need.
Free tier available • No credit card required
What the Renters' Rights Act Means for You
The biggest shake-up in renting law for a generation. Here's what every landlord and agent needs to know.
Section 21 Abolished
No more 'no-fault' evictions. Every possession claim now requires evidence under Section 8 grounds. Your documentation is your defence.
Decent Homes Standard
Private rentals must now meet the same standards as social housing. Properties must be free from serious hazards, in good repair, and adequately heated.
Awaab's Law Extended
Strict timescales to address damp, mould, and health hazards — now applying to private landlords. Document, respond, and evidence your actions.
Property Portal & Ombudsman
A new national Property Portal and mandatory Ombudsman membership. Landlords must register and meet transparency requirements.
Stronger Deposit Protections
Tenants gain stronger tools to challenge deductions. Without detailed check-in and checkout evidence, landlords will struggle to justify claims.
Tenant Right to Challenge
Tenants can challenge excessive rent increases and poor conditions more easily. Courts will want to see your maintenance and inspection records.
The Documentation You Now Need
Under the new Act, proper records aren't optional — they're your legal protection.
Check-In Inventory
A comprehensive, dated record of property condition at the start of every tenancy. With Section 21 gone, this is your baseline evidence for any future dispute.
- Timestamped photos of every room
- Detailed condition descriptions
- Meter readings recorded
- Fixtures and fittings documented
Mid-Term Inspections
Regular inspections prove you're meeting the Decent Homes Standard and responding to maintenance issues. Courts will ask for this evidence.
- Scheduled property condition checks
- Defect identification and tracking
- Evidence of ongoing maintenance
- Compliance with inspection obligations
Checkout Reports
A detailed comparison of property condition at tenancy end vs check-in. Without this, deposit deductions are nearly impossible to defend.
- Side-by-side condition comparison
- Fair wear and tear assessment
- Photo evidence of any damage
- Supporting documentation for claims
Damp & Mould Assessments
Awaab's Law means strict response timescales for hazards. Document, report, and evidence your response to damp and mould issues.
- Visual evidence of affected areas
- Severity classification
- Response timeline documentation
- Remediation action records
How FreshRent Keeps You Compliant
Everything you need to document, evidence, and protect — from one app.
Bulletproof Evidence, Built In
Defect Tracking That Protects You
Under Awaab's Law and the Decent Homes Standard, you must respond to property hazards quickly and with evidence. FreshRent lets you annotate photos directly, classify issues by severity, and create a documented trail showing you identified and addressed problems.
Start Documenting Now
Your Compliance Checklist
Start documenting now
Don't wait for enforcement. Begin creating inventories and inspection reports for all your properties today. Build your evidence base before the Act takes full effect.
Conduct check-in inventories for every tenancy
Every new tenancy — and ideally existing ones — should have a comprehensive, dated inventory with photos and condition notes.
Schedule regular mid-term inspections
Prove you're maintaining the Decent Homes Standard with documented periodic inspections. Identify and record issues before they become complaints.
Track and respond to defects promptly
Use defect tracking to log issues, classify severity, and document your response. This is critical evidence under Awaab's Law timescales.
Create thorough checkout reports
Compare end-of-tenancy condition against your check-in inventory. Without this, deposit deductions will be almost impossible to justify.
Reports That Stand Up in Disputes
Professional, branded PDF reports with timestamped photos, AI condition descriptions, and defect annotations — exactly what deposit schemes and courts want to see.
Renters' Rights Act FAQ
What is the Renters' Rights Act 2025?+
The Renters' Rights Act 2025 is a major reform of England's private rented sector. It abolishes Section 21 'no-fault' evictions, introduces a new Decent Homes Standard for the private sector, strengthens tenant protections, and requires landlords to maintain higher standards of property documentation and condition reporting.
When does the Renters' Rights Act come into force?+
The Act received Royal Assent in 2025 and key provisions are expected to come into force from May 2026 onwards, with some elements phased in over the following months. Landlords should prepare now to ensure compliance from day one.
Do I need an inventory report under the Renters' Rights Act?+
While inventories aren't explicitly mandated by the Act, they become far more important. Without Section 21, landlords must rely on Section 8 grounds for possession — all of which require evidence. A thorough inventory with timestamped photos and condition notes is your strongest documentation tool.
What does the Decent Homes Standard mean for private landlords?+
The Decent Homes Standard, previously only for social housing, will apply to private rentals. Properties must be free from serious hazards (Category 1 under HHSRS), in a reasonable state of repair, have reasonably modern facilities, and provide adequate thermal comfort. Regular documented inspections help prove compliance.
What documentation do I need to protect myself as a landlord?+
You need comprehensive check-in inventories with dated photos, regular mid-term inspection reports, checkout reports comparing start and end condition, defect logs showing you've addressed maintenance issues, and evidence of property condition meeting the Decent Homes Standard. FreshRent handles all of this.
How does Awaab's Law affect private landlords?+
Awaab's Law, named after Awaab Ishak who died from mould exposure, sets strict timescales for landlords to address hazards like damp and mould. The Renters' Rights Act extends these requirements to the private sector. FreshRent's Damp & Mould inspection type helps you document, track, and respond to these issues within required timescales.
Can a tenant take me to court without proper documentation?+
Yes — and under the new Act, tenants have stronger routes to challenge landlords. Without proper documentation, you'll struggle to evidence property condition at check-in, justify any deposit deductions, defend against disrepair claims, or prove compliance with the Decent Homes Standard.
How does FreshRent help with Renters' Rights Act compliance?+
FreshRent provides the complete documentation toolkit: timestamped photo inventories, AI-powered condition descriptions, defect tracking and classification, mid-term inspection reports, checkout comparisons, damp & mould assessments, and professional PDF reports — all stored digitally with full audit trails.
Don't Wait Until It's Too Late
The Renters' Rights Act is coming. Start building your documentation now — before you need it in a dispute. FreshRent is free to start.
Free tier includes 2 properties • No credit card • Cancel anytime