Welcome to the latest update for Sulets landlords. Below are some important updates on legislation, compliance and improvements we are making based on your feedback.
You said, we did
Thank you to all landlords who completed our landlord survey last year. Your feedback helps us improve the service we provide. Following your responses we have made several changes.
You said – Provide clearer guidance around legislative changes
We did – As you will be aware from our webinars and previous landlord newsletters, the Renters’ Rights Act is the most significant change to renting in a generation. The RRA has now been passed and all Assured Shorthold tenancies will convert automatically to assured periodic tenancies from 1 May 2026. Sulets’ exemption from the Act remains and any properties on our Leased Service will be exempt from the RRA.
We are in the process of sending out Section 21s to the properties that are currently on our legacy Managed Service to advise tenants of the last date of their tenancy and when they need to move out. However, there is some risk that tenants on the Let Only or Managed service may exercise their rights to give 2 months notice on 1st May 2026 and end their tenancies at the end of June. We have informed all tenants currently on our Leased Service of the differences in their agreements and started a ‘countdown to move out’ series of emails.
You said – Better communication when registering as a new landlord
We did – We have updated our new landlord take-on process to streamline and simplify what we require from you. This will mean we can get your property compliant and advertised ASAP with less hassle.
You said – Can we have quicker payments of rent, the payment service is too slow.
We did – Some landlords were unhappy about the timing of our payments to you, as these were sometimes made up to seven working days after the rent payments had cleared. On our last payment we made the payment on the same day as we were due to receive the rent and we will do this again for the next payment. For more recently signed Option Notices, we have now set new fixed payment dates for when you will receive funds, and this will continue going forward. The dates are: 09/09/2026, 02/11/2026, 29/01/2027, 13/05/2027. We hope this will resolve the issue of uncertainty and make managing our payments easier for you.
Deposit policy update
Due to our unique status, Sulets does not need to protect tenant deposits using either the custodial or insurance backed schemes. To ensure fairness and transparency for both parties, we have recently updated our deposit policy to ensure consistency and compliance with current guidance.
The updated process aims to:
- Provide clearer processes for deductions and dispute resolution
- Ensure deposits are handled consistently across all properties
- Maintain transparency for both landlords and tenants
If you have any questions about deposits for your property, please contact your property manager.
Renters’ Rights Act – Fines and enforcement
The new Renters’ Rights Act (RRA) has some significant new powers to investigate and fine landlords so getting compliance right is more important than ever. Local authorities have been given new powers to fine landlords for breaches under the new law and tenants have been given enhanced powers to pursue landlords for Rent Repayment Orders (RRO). RROs have increased to two years which could mean very significant losses for a landlord who gets compliance wrong.
Moreover, the types of things that trigger fines and in some cases, rent repayment orders, have been increased to include a wide array of issues such as:
- “Purporting to let” for a fixed term
- Failing to provide tenant with written statement of terms of tenancy
- Failing to state proposed rent
- Breach of prohibition of rental bidding rule
- Asking for or accepting prohibited pre-tenancy rent payment
- Prohibition of rent in advance after lease entered into (except initial rent)
- Increasing rent other than by Section 13 process
- Discrimination in tenant selection
- Refusing to accept request from tenant to have pet without good reason
- Breaches of obligations regarding PRS Landlord Database
- Breaches of obligations regarding PRS Landlord Ombudsman
- Breaches relating to Decent Homes Standard (Category 1 hazard)
- Serving invalid notices or misleading tenants about possession
- Marketing, letting, licensing in restricted period (where the tenant has been evicted with the intention of selling the property and then subsequently re-let)
Penalties can be up to £7,000 per breach and up to £40,000 for repeated breaches with the threat of a Rent Repayment Order on top of these fines.
How Sulets can help
The good news is that Sulets landlords on our Leased Service fall outside the scope of these fines as our agreements are not assured tenancies as Sulets is your tenant. This is another reason why letting Sulets manage your property gives you a guaranteed income and protection from huge costs for potentially simple mistakes.
EPC and MEES updates
There have been several announcements regarding Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) and Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES).
Key points for landlords:
- EPCs will remain valid for 10 years
- A new EPC calculation system (Home Energy Model) was due to be introduced in October, but this has been pushed back to the second half of 2027.
EPC C requirement
It has now been confirmed that all domestic rental properties must reach EPC rating C by October 2030.
- The cost cap will increase to £10,000 per property, assuming the property is valued at over £100,000.
- Energy improvements from 1 October 2025 can count towards this cap
- This includes upgrades such as windows, heating systems and energy improvements
Landlords should keep receipts and invoices for any improvement works.
Grants and funding
The government is expected to introduce new grant schemes and low-interest loans to support energy efficiency improvements. These will likely be administered through local authorities and targeted at lower-income households.
What to do if you have an existing EPC C or above?
Given that the EPC calculation will change, albeit to the second half of 2027, if you have a property that is currently graded as a C or above, it may be worth renewing the current EPC prior to the change so that you benefit from 10 years under the existing EPC assessment criteria.
For more information click here.
£500 landlord referral
Sulets are actively looking to sign up new landlords in Leicester or Loughborough. If you know of anyone who could benefit from the Sulets service, then please let us know. The more landlords like you that we have on board, the more students we can help.
If you recommend a new landlord to us, we will offer you a £500 cash referral payment if they sign up and we let their property!
Please contact Ruta Svedkauskaite (Sales Manager) who will be happy to help and can offer valuations on potential rental incomes in the student sector.
Terms & conditions:
Sulets will pay £500 to any existing landlord referring a new landlord who hasn’t previously rented a property through us and whose property we subsequently rent for the forthcoming year on a lease. The payment is for each new landlord introduced. There is no limit on the number of individual referrals that can be made.