Legislation & policy · 18 July 2026
A mandatory ombudsman for private landlords
Membership becomes compulsory, and the ombudsman can order apologies, information and compensation.
Overview
All private landlords letting in England will be required to join a government-approved redress scheme, whether or not they use an agent.
What the ombudsman can do
Investigate complaints about repairs, communication and standards, and order remedial action, an apology or compensation.
Evidence wins cases
Dated records of reports, responses and works are the single biggest factor in the outcome of a complaint.
Practical step
Keep tenant communication in one place with timestamps rather than across personal phones and inboxes.
General information for UK landlords and letting agents, not legal advice. Rules differ across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.