Letting a property should feel organised and manageable. You want tenants who look after their home, rent arriving when it should, and confidence that repairs and paperwork are being handled properly.
Whether you’re letting your first property or have managed rentals for years, now is a good time to review your approach. Changes to tenancy law have made it particularly important to keep your documents, procedures, and day-to-day management up to date.
At Coppenwall Lettings, we help landlords across Rawtenstall, Bacup, Haslingden, Ramsbottom and the surrounding areas make informed decisions about their rental properties.
What has changed for landlords in 2026?
The first phase of the Renters’ Rights Act came into force in England on 1 May 2026, bringing significant changes to most private assured tenancies.
These include:
- The end of Section 21 “no-fault” eviction notices, with landlords needing a valid possession ground.
- A move to monthly rolling assured periodic tenancies, in place of fixed-term assured tenancies.
- Rent increases are limited to once every 12 months through the revised Section 13 process, with at least two months’ notice.
- A ban on asking for, encouraging or accepting offers above the advertised rent.
- New protections against discrimination towards applicants with children or receiving benefits, and a requirement to consider tenants’ requests to keep pets.
Landlords should check how these changes affect their existing tenancies as well as any new lets. Read the government’s guidance on the reforms.
Further measures, including the private rented sector database and landlord ombudsman, have a separate phased timetable. They did not all become mandatory in May 26. See the government’s implementation roadmap.
A successful let starts before the first viewing
Good preparation can make a real difference to how a tenancy begins.
Before advertising, take a fresh look at the property. Are there outstanding repairs? Does everything work as it should? Is the property clean, presentable, and ready for someone to make it their home?
Your paperwork deserves the same attention. Safety records, deposit arrangements, and tenancy information need to be organised, with clear reminders for anything that requires renewal or review.
Setting a realistic rent figure also matters. An ambitious figure is only useful if it reflects the property and the local market. A sensible rental valuation helps you plan your income and market the property with confidence, with more chance of securing a long-term tenants who are comfortable paying a fair price.
The work continues after the tenant moves in
A leaking tap, a faulty boiler or a question about the rent can quickly become another task competing for your attention.
For landlords managing a property around a full-time job or family commitments, keeping track of those conversations can be difficult. It becomes harder still if you live away from the area.
Clear communication and prompt attention to repairs help tenants feel supported. Regular inspections, arranged appropriately, also provide an opportunity to identify maintenance needs and keep an accurate record of the property’s condition.
It is often these ordinary, ongoing tasks that determine how smoothly a tenancy runs.
Is managing the property yourself still the right choice?
Self-management can work well when you have the time, knowledge, and reliable support to do it properly.
But it is worth asking whether your current arrangement still suits you. Can you respond when something goes wrong? Do you have dependable contractors? Are your records easy to find? Are you comfortable keeping up with changes to the rules and legislation?
Professional management gives you support with that workload. It does not remove every risk or guarantee uninterrupted rental income, but it can bring consistency to the way your property is managed.
Local support from Coppenwall
Coppenwall Lettings is a family-run letting agent based in Rawtenstall, supporting hundreds of landlords in Rossendale and the surrounding areas.
Our management services include rent collection, arrears management, maintenance coordination, tenant communication, landlord insurance, and regular inspections. Having these tasks handled through one local team helps keep the practical side of letting organised.
Whether you have a property ready to advertise or an existing tenancy you would like help managing, we can talk through your circumstances and explain the available options.
Thinking of letting your property in 2026?
Contact Coppenwall about letting and property management. Tell us about your property and the level of support you need, and we’ll help you work out the next step.
Call us on:
01706 489140
