The biggest shake-up to private renting in a generation is already here
The Renters’ Rights Act came into force on 1 May 2026, and for landlords across Stafford, whether you own a single terraced house in Castlefields or a portfolio of flats near Stafford town centre, the rules have fundamentally changed.
This is not a future concern. It is the current reality.
With average rents in Stafford now sitting at £898 per month (up 6.3% year-on-year), the private rented sector here remains a genuinely attractive investment. But the legislative landscape surrounding that investment has shifted dramatically, and landlords who are not yet fully compliant face serious financial exposure.
This guide from Belvoir Stafford breaks down exactly what you need to know and act on right now.
The end of Section 21: what Stafford landlords must do instead
The Renters’ Rights Act abolished Section 21 “no-fault” evictions with immediate effect from 1 May 2026. Every assured shorthold tenancy (AST) in England, including all existing tenancies, was automatically converted into a periodic tenancy on that date.
This means you can no longer serve a Section 21 notice to regain possession of your property. Full stop.
Using Section 8 grounds to recover possession
Possession is still achievable, but it must now be sought through Section 8 of the Housing Act 1988, using one of the updated statutory grounds. These include Ground 1A (selling the property), Ground 8 (rent arrears of at least two months), and discretionary grounds covering anti-social behaviour, damage to the property, or breach of tenancy conditions.
Critically, notice periods have been extended under the Act. For rent arrears, landlords must now allow a minimum of four weeks before issuing proceedings. Grounds related to sale or moving back in require at least four months’ notice.
For Stafford landlords managing properties in higher-demand areas such as Forebridge or near Stafford Railway Station, where tenant turnover has historically been lower, this shift demands a more proactive approach to tenancy management and documentation from day one.
The RRA Information Sheet: have you served it yet?
One of the most immediately pressing compliance obligations concerns the Renters’ Rights Act Information Sheet, which all landlords were required to serve on existing tenants by 31 May 2026.
If you missed that deadline, you need to act without further delay.
Penalty exposure of up to £7,000 per breach
Local housing authorities have the power to issue financial penalties of up to £7,000 per breach for landlords who failed to provide the RRA Information Sheet within the required timeframe. This is not a theoretical risk; enforcement activity is already ramping up nationally.
If you are unsure whether you have fulfilled this obligation for all of your tenants across your Stafford portfolio, speak with the team at Belvoir Stafford to carry out an immediate compliance review.
The PRS Database: what’s coming and how to prepare now
The Private Rented Sector (PRS) Database, a national register of landlords and their properties, is due to launch in late 2026. Registration will be mandatory for all private landlords in England, and operating without registration will be a criminal offence.
What documents you will need to upload
While the precise portal requirements are still being confirmed by government, landlords should begin gathering the following documentation now:
- Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) for each property
- Gas safety certificates
- Electrical Installation Condition Reports (EICRs)
- Proof of deposit protection
- Details of your tenancy agreements
- Your HMO licence, where applicable
Getting this documentation in order ahead of the launch window will save considerable time and reduce the risk of gaps being identified at registration.
EPC compliance: a particular risk for older Stafford stock
Energy efficiency is woven throughout the Renters’ Rights Act, and local authority investigatory powers in this area were significantly expanded from 27 December 2025.
The EPC challenge in Castlefields and Forebridge
Landlords operating in the ST16 3 postcode, which covers the Castlefields and Forebridge areas of Stafford, face a heightened EPC risk. The older housing stock in these neighbourhoods, much of it Victorian and Edwardian terraced property, is disproportionately likely to carry an EPC rating of D or E.
This matters because the direction of travel from government is clearly towards a minimum EPC C rating being required for all new tenancies, with existing tenancies to follow. While the precise implementation date for private landlords continues to be confirmed, the expanded enforcement powers already in place mean that local authorities can now investigate and act on energy efficiency failings more readily than before.
It is worth noting that Castlefields and Forebridge also offer gross yields of 6.4% to 6.8%, making them among the most attractive buy-to-let areas in Stafford. Protecting that yield means staying ahead of EPC obligations, not waiting for an enforcement notice to arrive.
The new statutory rent review procedure
Under the Renters’ Rights Act, landlords can only increase rent once per year, and must do so using the new statutory Section 13 notice procedure. The notice period has been extended to two months, and tenants now have a strengthened right to challenge increases they consider above market rate at the First-tier Tribunal.
With Stafford’s one-bedroom rents averaging £629 per month and three-bedroom rents averaging £974 per month, any rent review must be demonstrably reflective of the local market. Keeping accurate records of comparable rental values in your specific area, whether that is Rowley Park, Wildwood, or the town centre, will be essential if a challenge arises.
Tenants’ new right to keep pets
The Act introduces a default right for tenants to request permission to keep a pet, and landlords can only refuse on reasonable grounds. You are permitted to require tenants to take out pet damage insurance as a condition of consent, which provides a practical layer of protection.
Review your tenancy agreements and your standard response process for pet requests. A blanket refusal policy is no longer legally permissible.
What Stafford landlords should do this month
September 2026 is the right moment to carry out a thorough compliance review. The Act has been live for four months, and enforcement is accelerating. Here is a practical checklist:
- Confirm that the RRA Information Sheet has been served on all existing tenants
- Audit your EPC ratings, particularly for older properties in ST16 3
- Review your tenancy agreements to ensure they reflect the new periodic tenancy framework
- Prepare your documentation for PRS Database registration
- Update your rent review process to follow the statutory Section 13 procedure
- Establish a clear, written process for handling pet consent requests
Protecting your Stafford investment with the right support
The Renters’ Rights Act is the most significant legislative shift for private landlords in England in decades. It brings genuine complexity, but it also rewards landlords who are well-prepared and professionally managed.
Stafford’s rental market remains strong. Demand across ST16, ST17, and ST18 continues to outpace supply, and rents are rising. The landlords who will thrive in this new environment are those who treat compliance not as a burden, but as a foundation for a resilient, professionally managed portfolio.
Belvoir Stafford has been supporting local landlords through every stage of their property journey, and our lettings team is fully up to speed on every aspect of the Renters’ Rights Act as it applies to the Stafford market.
If you would like a personalised compliance review for your portfolio, whether you own one property or several, we are here to help. Contact Belvoir Stafford today to speak with a member of our lettings team, and let us make sure your investment is protected, compliant, and positioned for the year ahead.
Ready to find out what your Stafford rental property is worth in today’s market? Book a free rental valuation with Belvoir Stafford and get an accurate, up-to-date assessment from our local lettings experts.
