A Few Days to Go: The May 31st Renters’ Rights Act Deadline

Aziz Property Group
4 days ago
2 min read

The introduction of the Renters’ Rights Act marks the most significant regulatory transition for the UK private rented sector in a generation. While much of the industry discussion has focused on the long-term abolition of Section 21 "no-fault" evictions, private landlords in Merton, Tooting, and across South West London face an immediate statutory obligation this week.

By May 31st, specific compliance actions must be completed for all existing tenancies to ensure alignment with the new legislative framework.

Below is an objective summary of the immediate requirements and structural changes introduced by the Act.

1. The Statutory Information Requirement

On May 1st, existing Assured Shorthold Tenancies (ASTs) automatically transitioned into Assured Periodic (rolling month-to-month) tenancies by operation of law. Because this transition fundamentally alters the underlying contractual terms, landlords owe an immediate statutory duty of disclosure to their tenants.

The Mandate: Landlords must formally serve the official ‘Renters' Rights Act Information Sheet’ to all named tenants on an active agreement.
The Deadline: This documentation must be properly issued and received on or before May 31st.
Compliance Risk: Non-compliance with statutory disclosure mandates grants local authorities, including Merton Council, the power to issue financial penalties. Ensuring a clear, verifiable audit trail of service prior to June 1st is critical.

2. The Structural Shift to Periodic Tenancies

The elimination of fixed-term tenancies represents a structural change in portfolio management. Under the new framework, tenancies run on a rolling monthly basis with no pre-determined end date.

Tenant Rights: Tenants may terminate a tenancy at any juncture by providing a statutory two-month notice period.
Landlord Possession: To reclaim a property, landlords can no longer rely on a blanket notice. Instead, possession must be sought under specific, reformed statutory grounds—such as the intention to sell the property or recover it for personal use—which carry formal notice periods of up to four months.

Access the 2026 Landlord Compliance Documentation

To support local property owners and ensure seamless compliance across the South West London rental market, we have centralized the official statutory resources and implementation tools.