Renters' Rights Act 2025 Renting is changing. Reforms to the private rented sector in England mean new rights and responsibilities for landlords, letting agents and tenants. As a private landlord, you play an important role in delivering these reforms and will need to understand what they mean for you and your business. Read the Government guidance to see how it will affect you (opens in new tab)
We recognise the important role that landlords have in providing a supply of quality private rented homes.
All landlords are expected to provide safe, well‑maintained homes and ensure their tenants live in a property that meets legal standards.
Your responsibilities
Being a landlord comes with responsibilities. This includes carrying out essential repairs, meeting fire and electrical safety requirements, and managing the property in a fair and professional way.
Good landlords also communicate clearly with their tenants, respond promptly to concerns, and make sure all legal duties are properly followed.
As a landlord, you must also provide an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) to people who want to rent a home from you.
An EPC is a certificate that shows how energy efficient a property is by giving it a rating. Rented properties must have a minimum EPC rating of E or above unless there is a valid exemption.
If a property does not have an EPC and it should have, this can be reported to Kent County Council Trading Standards.
- Report an issue to Trading Standards (opens in new tab)
- Guidance on EPCs and Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (opens in new tab)
Your rights
When you let your property to a tenant, the tenancy is usually an Assured Shorthold Tenancy (unless you agree otherwise in writing or it is outside the assured tenancy legislation).
This means that:
- you have a guaranteed right to get your home back after six months - if you need to
- you can charge a market rent
- you can get your home back if your tenant owes you at least two months' or eight weeks' rent
- tenants causing a nuisance to local people can be evicted.
Find out more about about your rights as a landlord (opens in new tab)
Council tax and housing benefit
We value landlords as key partners in our service. We aim to work with you to ensure prompt payments and reduce overpayments. In return, we ask that you respect claimant confidentiality and data protection rules when making enquiries about your tenants.
Council tax responsibilities vary depending on the type of tenancy and in some cases—such as HMOs or when your property is empty — you may be liable instead of the tenant.
If you rent to tenants who receive housing benefit or Universal Credit, you may also need to engage with us about payments, overpayments and data protection requirements.
Need help?
Get in touch with our private sector housing team.
- email: privatesectorhousing@dover.gov.uk
- phone: 01304 872397
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