OBL-006
Landlord obligations · England
Prohibit Fixed-Term Tenancy — landlord obligations in England
From 1 May 2026, you cannot grant an assured tenancy with a fixed term. Any fixed-term clause in the agreement is void by law, and the conduct of purporting to let on a fixed term is separately prohibited. The tenancy must be periodic from the start.
Applies to
All private residential landlords granting assured tenancies from 1 May 2026.
Evidence
Documentary evidence required
Jurisdiction
England
Statutory basis
The law that creates this obligation
Primary instrument
Housing Act 1988 s.16E (as inserted by RRA 2025)
What the law requires
Your obligations as a landlord
- Who this applies to: All private residential landlords granting assured tenancies from 1 May 2026.
- When it applies: At or before grant of any assured tenancy.
- What you must do: Ensure the tenancy agreement confirms a periodic structure and does not contain any fixed-term.
Evidence standard
What good evidence looks like
Your compliance file should contain
- Written record or document confirming this obligation has been met
- Date of compliance — email timestamp, signed receipt, or platform log
Workspace task: Upload Periodic Tenancy
Upload the tenancy agreement confirming periodic structure.
Upload the tenancy agreement confirming periodic structure.
Record this obligation in your LettingsLedger workspace
Upload evidence, set reminders, and build a timestamped compliance record — all in one place.
Failure and enforcement
Consequences of non-compliance
What happens if you do not comply
Civil penalty up to £7,000; the fixed-term clause is void by law.
Related guides
Further reading for landlords
LettingsLedger is a compliance evidence governance platform. It is not a legal services provider and does not provide legal advice. Content is derived from UK primary legislation at legislation.gov.uk and official GOV.UK sources. Reflects the position as at June 2026. A GovProtocol product by Pertheo Limited.