Renters Rights Act - Fixed-Term Tenancy Changes

 

Overview

The Renters Rights Act comes into effect on 1 May 2026. Among other provisions, the Act abolishes fixed-term tenancies for most residential lets in England. From that date, new tenancies must be periodic (rolling) from the outset, and it is no longer possible to create a tenancy with a contractual end date.


SleekTech has been updated to reflect these requirements. The changes affect two areas of the application: creating a new lease, and recording a Contract Renewal or Tenancy Sign-up in the Rent Increase window.

 

Tenancy Types Affected

The new rules apply to the following tenancy types:

  • Private Residential
  • Housing Benefits
  • Universal Credit
  • Temporary Accommodation
  • Sharers
  • Regulated Tenancy

The following tenancy types are NOT affected and continue to support fixed terms as before:

  • Commercial
  • Lessee
  • Company Lease
  • Void Period

What Has Changed in the Software

Creating a New Lease

When you create a new lease for an affected tenancy type, the End Date and Contract Period fields now behave as follows:

  • Start date on or after 1 May 2026 - The End Date and Contract Period fields are hidden. Fixed terms are not permitted under the Act for these tenancy types. SleekTech will automatically clear any end date so the tenancy is created as periodic from day one.
  • Start date before 1 May 2026 - The End Date and Contract Period fields remain visible but are read-only. They show the original fixed term as a historical record. By operation of law these tenancies now continue as periodic tenancies once the fixed term expires; no action is required in the software.

Contract Renewals and Tenancy Sign-ups

The same logic applies when recording a Contract Renewal or Tenancy Sign-up in the Rent Increase window:

  • Start date on or after 1 May 2026 - The End Date and Contract Period fields are hidden and the end date is cleared automatically.
  • Start date before 1 May 2026 - The End Date and Contract Period fields are visible but read-only.

Step-by-Step: Creating a New Affected Tenancy from 1 May 2026

  1. Open SleekTech and navigate to the property.
  2. Click New Lease.
  3. Select the tenancy type (e.g. Private Residential).
  4. Enter the Start Date. If this is on or after 1 May 2026, the End Date and Contract Period fields will not appear - this is correct and expected.
  5. Complete all other lease details as normal.
  6. Click Save. The lease is created as a periodic tenancy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why can I not enter an end date for new tenancies from May 2026?

The Renters Rights Act prohibits fixed-term tenancies for residential lets. SleekTech enforces this by removing the End Date and Contract Period fields for tenancies starting on or after 1 May 2026, ensuring your agency remains compliant.


Can I still see the end date on leases that started before 1 May 2026?

Yes. For leases with a start date before 1 May 2026 the original end date and contract period are shown as read-only fields. These provide a historical record of the original fixed term. The tenancy will continue automatically as a periodic tenancy after that date.


What about commercial leases and other excluded types?

Commercial, Lessee, Company Lease, and Void Period tenancies are outside the scope of the Renters Rights Act. These tenancy types are not affected by this change and continue to work exactly as before, including full support for fixed-term end dates and contract periods.


Do I need to do anything for existing leases?

No manual changes are required. Existing leases with end dates are unaffected in the database. The read-only display is informational only. After the fixed term expires, the tenancy automatically becomes periodic by law.


What if a tenant and landlord agree a fixed term in a contract?

Any contractual clause purporting to create a fixed-term residential tenancy on or after 1 May 2026 is void under the Act. SleekTech prevents entry of an end date for these tenancy types to help your agency stay compliant.


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