## Understanding the Transition to the Renters Rights Act 2025

The Renters Rights Act (RRA) 2025 will come into force on 1 May 2026, marking the first stage of reforms to tenancy agreements in England. Existing fixed-term tenancies ending before this date, such as one completing on 31 March 2026, will convert into statutory periodic assured shorthold tenancies (ASTs) from 1 April 2026 under current law, before transitioning to assured periodic tenancies under the RRA on 1 May.

This transition has prompted landlords, especially those with jointly owned properties, to review their tenancy documentation to ensure compliance with the new legal framework.

## Do All Joint Property Owners Need to Be Named in the Tenancy Agreement?

A common question among landlords with joint ownership is whether all owners must be named as landlords on the tenancy agreement. The answer is no. It is legally permissible for one co-owner to be named as the landlord in the tenancy agreement, acting on behalf of all owners.

The tenancy agreement signed by the tenant binds all owners jointly, even if only one is named. Tenants rely on the contractual document and cannot challenge the tenancy simply because additional owners exist, for example, if discovered through a Land Registry search.

## Legal Requirements under the Renters Rights Act and Related Legislation

The RRA 2025 does not introduce any provisions requiring all joint owners to be named. The legislation mandates that tenants must be provided with the landlord’s name and an address for service, as stipulated by section 48 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1987. This requirement does not extend to disclosing the full legal or beneficial ownership structure of the property.

Section 48 focuses on ensuring tenants have a valid address in England or Wales for service of notices, not on identifying every joint owner.

Similarly, section 3 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, which concerns assignment of the landlord’s interest, does not apply if there has been no transfer of the reversion and the property has always been jointly owned. Therefore, serving a section 3 notice is not necessary in this context.

## Deposit Protection and Prescribed Information

If the deposit has been properly protected and the prescribed information served in the name of the contracting landlord, there is unlikely to be any defect arising solely from not naming all co-owners in the tenancy agreement.

Reissuing prescribed information to include additional owners unnecessarily may create technical complications and is best avoided unless absolutely required.

## Is an Addendum Required to Name Additional Owners?

An addendum to the tenancy agreement to name all joint owners is not necessary. The named landlord, as a joint owner, has the legal authority to grant the tenancy on behalf of all owners. This approach simplifies documentation and reduces administrative burden.

## Practical Implications for Landlords

Landlords with jointly owned properties can continue naming a single landlord on tenancy agreements without fear of non-compliance under the RRA 2025. This reduces complexity and potential confusion for tenants.

However, landlords should be aware that the new statutory written statement required under the RRA will need to be served on tenants in due course. The government has not yet published the final version of this document or the accompanying regulations, expected in March 2026. As such, compiling fully compliant tenancy documentation prematurely may be unwise.

Landlord Law services will provide updated compliant documentation once all government regulations are finalised.

## Conclusion

Landlords need not worry about naming all joint property owners in tenancy agreements under the Renters Rights Act 2025. One co-owner named as landlord is sufficient to meet legal requirements. The focus should remain on preparing for the new statutory written statement and awaiting final government guidance to ensure full compliance.

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Suggested internal link anchors
– Renters Rights Act 2025
– tenancy agreement requirements
– joint property ownership
– section 48 Landlord and Tenant Act 1987
– deposit protection rules
– statutory written statement
– assured shorthold tenancy
– tenancy documentation compliance
– landlord obligations
– property management regulations

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TLA update

TLA is launching a new Trusted Partners Hub in Q1 2026, featuring verified and approved service providers selected to support landlords, tenants, and property management businesses. We are inviting legal, trades, insurance, financial, mortgage, tenant screening, and other service providers to register their interest here: https://landlordassociation.org.uk/become-a-tla-service-partner/