Homesty View: How the Renters’ Rights Bill Turns Tenant Screening into Risk Management

Setting the Scene

Imagine you’re a landlord in 2026. Five tenancy applications land in your inbox:

1. A single professional with excellent credit.

2. A family with two young children.

3. A graduate starting a new job with no rental history.

4. A tenant receiving housing benefit, supported by a guarantor.

5. A self-employed contractor with irregular income.

In the past, many landlords would rely on Section 21 “no fault” evictions if a tenancy soured. That option is about to disappear. Under the Renters’ Rights Bill, every tenancy decision becomes a risk decision — and the paperwork you gather at the start could protect you years later.

What the Law Says (Gov.uk Anchor Points)

According to the Renters’ Rights Bill Guide (Gov.uk):

• Section 21 is abolished – landlords must rely on prescribed grounds to regain possession.

• Discrimination is banned – landlords cannot refuse applicants solely because they receive benefits or have children.

• Rent increases are limited – only once per year, with tenants able to challenge above-market rises.

• Rental bidding is prohibited – landlords must advertise at a set rent and cannot push tenants into overbidding.

• Ombudsman membership will be mandatory – giving tenants a route to complain and landlords an additional layer of accountability.

• Decent Homes Standard will extend into the private rented sector, raising expectations for repairs and living conditions.

What This Means for Landlords

With less flexibility to exit a tenancy, landlords must:

• Scrutinise applicants more closely: income proof, references, guarantor checks, credit history.

• Document decisions: show fair treatment and avoid any hint of discrimination.

• Prepare for challenge: whether at tribunal or via the Ombudsman, evidence is king.

This is less about “picking the perfect tenant” and more about defensible, documented decision-making.

Scenario in Action: Applicant Shortlist

• Old world: Reject applicant on benefits, select professional, rely on Section 21 if things go wrong.

• New world: Assess benefit-claiming tenant fairly, factor in guarantor strength, log reasoning. If tenancy later fails, eviction requires prescribed legal grounds — and you’ll need that file.

On Homesty, every step is logged:

• No overbidding allowed — all tenants see the same advertised rent.

• All communication, contracts, and deposits handled in-app — creating a complete audit trail.

• Deposit protection is automatically managed.

• Enhanced referencing via Laddr — pulling more data points than traditional referencing companies, giving landlords deeper insight while ensuring fair and consistent checks.

This turns screening into a compliance process with built-in safeguards.

The Homesty Checklist: Landlord Readiness

1. Audit tenancy files — do you have income proofs, guarantor details, credit checks?

2. Update adverts — show asking rent clearly; Homesty already prevents rent bidding.

3. Remove blanket bans — “no benefits” or “no children” clauses will be unlawful.

4. Train your team or agents — ensure consistent, compliant application handling.

5. Register for redress — Ombudsman membership will be compulsory.

6. Use Homesty to centralise comms, contracts, and deposits — building an instant compliance file.

7. Strengthen referencing with Homesty + Laddr — more data points, stronger insights.

8. Track the Bill’s commencement dates — not all reforms start at once.

Homesty View

The Renters’ Rights Bill marks a pivot point. Tenancy applications are no longer casual screening exercises — they are the foundation of your legal defence.

At Homesty, we’ve built our platform around compliance, fairness, and protection:

• No overbidding: tenants apply on equal footing.

• All comms, contracts, and deposits managed inside the app: landlords get an audit trail, tenants get security.

• Enhanced referencing through Laddr: deeper insights, more data points, and fairer assessments than traditional providers.

• Right to Rent checks and DocuSign contracts ensure legality from day one.

With the right tools, landlords can adapt to the new legal framework while attracting tenants who value transparency and fairness.