Subletting your property

If you rent out your property  

If you sublet your property, the law treats you as a private landlord. This means private renting rules apply to you. If you are a leaseholder, the rules apply in full, regardless of what your lease or subletting permission says. 

What is changing from 1st May 2026

From 1st May 2026, rules on private renting are changing due to the Renters’ Rights Act 2025. You will no longer be able to:

• Use a section 21 (‘no‑fault’) notice to evict your tenant
• Use fixed‑term tenancies

Instead:

• Most tenancies will be open‑ended (rolling)
• If you need the property back, you must use a legal reason, serve a Notice Seeking Possession (section 8 notice), and provide the correct notice period (please note there is a new form of notice which can be accessed from 1st May 2026)
• Before issuing a new tenancy agreement, tenants must be provided with a written statement of key tenancy terms 

These rules apply even if your lease, subletting permission or tenancy agreement says something different. 

The changes under the Act mean you must provide your tenant with the official Renters’ Rights Act Information Sheet 2026. This is a government prescribed document that explains how the new law affects their tenancy. If you already have an existing written tenancy, you must give the information sheet to each named tenant by 31 May 2026. The information sheet must be provided as a PDF attachment or paper copy (sending a web link alone is not sufficient)

You can download the Renters’ Rights Act information sheet 2026.

You will also need to provide certain information when you create a new tenancy on or after 1st May 2026. You will need to do this before you and your tenant sign a tenancy agreement. You can find government guidance on GOV.UK.

Under the new rules, if a landlord regains possession in order to sell the property or move back in (using possession grounds 1 or 1A), they must not re‑let the property for 12 months. 

Make sure you understand how the new possession rules affect your ability to end a tenancy and re‑let the property. 

If you are a leaseholder and you are thinking about subletting your property, you should check the terms of your lease to see if subletting is allowed and whether you need our permission. 

You can find government guidance on GOV.UK, or contact your legal or professional advisor.

This guidance should not be treated as legal advice and we cannot provide you with any further information or advice. As a landlord, you are responsible for ensuring your own compliance with the law, and we recommend that you seek independent legal or professional advice if you do not understand how the new rules apply to you.