The government has published the final version of the Official Renters’ Rights Act Information Sheet – setting out key changes for tenants ahead of reforms coming into force on May 1.

Letting agents and landlords have a clear legal duty to provide the document to relevant tenants, with a strict May 31 deadline and financial penalties for non-compliance.

The document explains how tenants’ rights and responsibilities will change under the new legislation. Failure to issue could result in fines of up to £7,000 per tenancy.

The Act is delivering a major reform of private rental law in England. It reshapes the balance between landlords and tenants by introducing stronger tenant protections, tighter controls on rent practices, new compliance requirements and higher property standards.

Landlords need to be prepared for the changes and be aware of what is needed to adhere to the new rules. Failure to do so may prove costly.

The main changes coming into force from May 1 include the abolition of ‘no fault’ evictions and the conversion of most Assured Shorthold Tenancies into rolling tenancies.

Fixed terms will disappear and tenancies will continue on a month-to-month basis. Rent will only be payable up to one month in advance.

Tenants will be able to terminate their tenancy by giving two months’ notice to their landlord. This is designed to give tenants greater flexibility and mobility, while still providing landlords with reasonable notice.

From May 1, rent review clauses cannot be used for new increases Landlords can only increase the rent once a year and will need to give written notice of the rise at least two months before it takes effect.

Any rent increase must be no higher than the open market rent. If the tenant thinks the proposed increase is above market rate, they can challenge it at the First-tier Tribunal.

Landlords will no longer be able to evict tenants without providing a legal reason for doing so. These include not paying rent on time or if the tenant or others living with them commit antisocial behaviour in or near the property.

And tenants cannot be required to leave under some grounds for the first 12 months of a tenancy.

Landlords must cite one or more of the statutory grounds for possession. If a mandatory ground is established at a possession hearing, the court must grant an order for possession. If only discretionary grounds are relied upon, the court will consider whether it is reasonable in light of all the circumstances.

Landlords must advertise an asking rent and are not permitted to accept more than that advertised figure.

There are other big changes coming on May 1. Tenants will have an implied right to request permission to keep a pet, and landlords may not unreasonably refuse consent.

If they refuse, they must inform the tenant in writing, setting out the reason why. They will need to consider each request on a case-by-case basis. Tenants can challenge the landlord’s decision in court.

The new Act also prohibits landlords and agents from discriminating against prospective tenants on the basis of benefit status or family status. Blanket restrictions such as ‘No DSS’ or exclusions targeting families will no longer be lawful.

Workers accessing private pension savings or using complex pay arrangements have been warned “check before you dip”.

The alert has been issued by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) and it comes amid a crackdown on tax avoidance schemes.

In a statement it said: “Check before you dip into your private pension pot – it could be tax avoidance and could cost you a lot more than you think.”

The alert was directed at individuals accessing private pension funds, where certain arrangements claim to release money prematurely or in a tax-efficient manner.

HMRC’s stance is simple: if something appears too good to be true, it likely is – and may lead to a substantially larger bill down the line.

The agency is also targeting arrangements that promise higher take-home pay but could leave individuals facing significant financial consequences.

Officials have warned that those involved in such schemes may be required to repay the full amount of unpaid tax, alongside interest charges and penalties.

HMRC said concerns are growing over contractors and agency workers being drawn into complicated payment structures, often operated through ‘umbrella companies’, which can obscure how income is taxed.

In a statement the taxman said: “Understanding how you’re being paid is the best way to make sure you don’t get caught up in tax avoidance. This applies to people in PAYE as well as Self Assessment.

“Checking your payslips and contractual arrangements will help you confirm you are paying the right amount of Income Tax and National Insurance contributions. Doing this will mean you avoid getting an unexpected tax bill later.”

It also explained that many avoidance schemes rely on “artificial transactions that serve no real purpose” beyond reducing tax liabilities on paper.

Individuals have been warned that they remain legally responsible for paying all tax owed, regardless of whether they relied on advice from scheme promoters.

Workers may face a “double hit”, losing money paid to scheme operators before being pursued for the full tax bill.

Anyone who believes they may be involved in a questionable scheme is being urged by HMRC to contact it as soon as possible.

• To discuss any issues raised by this article please contact me on 01772 430000

An increase in the monthly number of company insolvencies, as well as a rise in the unemployment rate and slow GDP growth, all highlight the continued financial strain facing businesses.

The latest government statistics showing that corporate insolvencies in England and Wales increased by four per cent in January 2026, compared to the previous month.

Mark Davies, North Wests chair of R3, the UK’s restructuring, turnaround and insolvency trade body, said: “January is often a tough month financially for businesses and the latest monthly rise in insolvencies reflect the dismal, rain-soaked start to the year the UK has endured.

“However, there is a ray of sunshine with corporate insolvencies 14 per cent lower than the same month in the previous year.

“Businesses across several sectors haven’t had the results from the ‘Golden Quarter’ boost they had hoped for. As a result, January has slightly become a tipping point, where high costs, disappointing sales and year-end financial pressures converge.”

Meanwhile, the unemployment rate has reached a five year high of 5.2 per cent and GDP also grew slowly at 0.1 per cent in December, with construction recording its worst performance in more than four years.

Small and medium size (SME) businesses are particularly exposed to cashflow pressures and late payments, with construction business especially affected.

A recent report by the Business and Trade Committee found SMEs are owed tens of billions of pounds in unpaid invoices and noted that late payments are responsible for the closure of 38 UK businesses every day.

Recognising the early warning signs of financial distress is critical. If you are noticing issues like persistent late payments, growing debts, or difficulties meeting payroll obligations then it is more than likely time to seek professional guidance.

Cash flow issues can escalate quickly – that is why it is vital that business owners and company directors monitor finances closely and seek advice at the first sign of trouble.

Having clear and up-to-date financial information is vital. Cash as ever, is king. So, it is really important that projections and cashflow forecasts are accurate and timely and business leaders are on top of their figures.

Take a look at your payment terms and see if they need to be changed. Have honest conversations with suppliers and customers.

Look at your overheads to make sure you are getting the best deals possible. Assess your office systems and purchasing and ordering processes to make sure you are not incurring unnecessary costs.

Ensure that your stock control is in order and is fit for purpose. Are the right processes in place? Examine and re-evaluate.

Also, be prepared to adapt. As well as looking at areas where costs could be reduced without harming cash inflows, gauge if there are opportunities to be exploited and new markets to explore.

More than ever, in tough times, due diligence on new customers and regular communication with existing ones is really important.

• For advice and to discuss any issues raised by this article please contact me on 01772 430000

Networking is a valuable skill that helps you build relationships, make new connections, and can open doors to new opportunities.

However, it can be difficult and many business people, no matter how experienced they are, can find it daunting.

Here, courtesy of the King’s Trust, are some top tips and handy hints to help you become a top networker:

Do your research

If you’re attending a networking event, find out as much as you can about it beforehand. Who’s hosting it? Who’s going? Who might it be worth you speaking to?

Volunteer at a networking event

If the idea of networking and approaching strangers makes you feel anxious, offer to volunteer at the event instead. This way people will approach you for help and you will be able to start a conversation from there. Having access to the guest list will also help you work out who’s worth talking to!

About you

Make sure you prepare a little introduction about yourself for when you meet new people. Tell them what you do and why you’re there.

Don’t be afraid to introduce yourself

If you can get a mutual contact to introduce you, that’s great, but don’t be afraid to go it alone if needs be. Approach whoever you want to speak to, wait for a break in the conversation and then introduce yourself.

Name game

Remember people’s names by repeating it back to them and checking the spelling if necessary.

Pick out people’s distinctive features

This will help you remember everyone you meet so you can follow up with them after the event.

Be positive and build relationships
You have a lot to offer so remember that. But, don’t think purely about what you can get from the event – think also about what you can offer other people.

Listen

Ask interesting questions and then listen to the answers. People appreciate being listened to so remember the details.

Set a networking goal

Make sure you know what you want to get out of the event. Setting yourself a target number of new people to talk to is always a good idea.

Take notes

Taking notes to help you remember key bits of information about the people you have spoken to is always a good idea – especially when it comes to following up with them post-event.

Say your goodbyes

Don’t duck out quickly at the end. Shake hands and wrap up with anyone you’ve spoken to before you leave so that they remember you.

Business cards

Don’t forget to take business cards if you have them. It’s important not to spam people with cards but it’s a great way of making sure people have your details.

Follow up

You will likely receive a lot of business cards yourself at these types of events so make sure you keep a record of everyone’s contact details somewhere and then follow up with them after the event. LinkedIn makes this easier, so if you don’t already have one, set up an account.

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has issued a warning after new figures revealing more than 4,800 self-assessment scams have been reported since February 2025.

Scammers use persuasive and threatening tactics to target people when they are more likely to receive correspondence from HMRC.

They send fake tax demands or attempt to pressurise people to hand over personal information.

In the last 10 months, customers have reported more than 135,500 HMRC-related scams, including 29,000 scams referring to fake tax refund claims.

HMRC is reminding customers to be vigilant and check whether the email, SMS message or phone call claiming to be from HMRC is genuine on GOV.UK.

Lucy Pike, HMRC’s chief security officer, said: “Millions of people file a tax return each year and scammers mimic HMRC to try and catch unsuspecting victims out.

“I’m urging people to stay vigilant and if any emails, text messages or phone calls appear suspicious.

“Don’t be lured into clicking on links or sharing your personal information – report it directly to HMRC. Just search ‘report an HMRC scam’ on GOV.UK to find out more.”

HMRC has taken swift action to close down nearly 25,000 fake websites and phone numbers in the last 10 months.

It says it will never leave voicemails threatening legal action or arrest, ask for personal or financial information via text message or email or contact anyone by email, text or phone to inform them about a refund or ask them to claim one.

Anyone who receives suspicious communication from HMRC can forward emails to phishing@hmrc.gov.uk, SMS messages to 60599 or report phone calls mimicking HMRC on GOV.UK. Find out more about how to report scam activity to HMRC on GOV.UK.