April and May 2026 are the most compliance-dense weeks the private rented sector has ever seen. In a 60-day window, five separate legal obligations converge — three with financial penalties attached. Most landlords know about one or two of these changes. Very few are tracking all five at once.
Here is the complete list of what you need to do, and when:
- Register for Making Tax Digital — deadline: 6 April 2026 (5 days away)
- Serve any pending Section 21 notices — last valid date: 30 April 2026
- Issue the Renters' Rights Act Information Sheet to all existing tenants — deadline: 31 May 2026
- Review the new air-to-air heat pump BUS grant — launched April 2026
- Book EPC upgrade works now — assessor shortage warning from NRLA
This article covers the practical action you need to take on each. The EPC 2030 deadline sits behind all of it as the long-term backdrop.
The April 2026 Deadline Summary
| Obligation | Deadline | Penalty for missing |
|---|---|---|
| Register for Making Tax Digital | 6 April 2026 | Late filing penalties: from £30/day |
| Section 21 notice (last chance) | 30 April 2026 | S21 served after this date = void |
| RRA Information Sheet to all tenants | 31 May 2026 | Up to £7,000 civil penalty |
| Air-to-air heat pump BUS grant | April 2026 (live) | No penalty — but first-come access |
| EPC upgrade bookings | No fixed date (but now) | Assessor shortage risk growing |
1. Making Tax Digital Starts 6 April — Are You Registered?
⚠️ 5 days away
From 6 April 2026, Making Tax Digital for Income Tax (MTD for IT) becomes mandatory for landlords with gross annual rental income over £50,000. This is not optional.
What you need:
- A free account with HMRC-approved MTD software (FreeAgent, Xero, Sage, Landlord Studio, or similar)
- Digital records of all rental income and property expenses from 6 April
- Quarterly digital submissions to HMRC (instead of a single annual Self Assessment return)
The EPC angle: If you are making EPC upgrade improvements to your rental properties, how you categorise those costs in your MTD software matters. Capital expenditure (improvements) is treated differently to revenue expenditure (repairs and maintenance) — and getting this wrong will either over-claim deductions you aren't entitled to, or under-record the capital you'll offset against Capital Gains Tax when you sell.
Read our complete guide: Making Tax Digital for Landlords: How to Record EPC Improvement Costs Correctly →
If you have income between £30,000 and £50,000: MTD is mandatory from April 2027 — but registering early gives you a year to bed in your processes before it becomes compulsory.
2. Section 21 Abolished on 1 May — Have You Served Pending Notices?
⚠️ 30 days away
On 30 April 2026 at midnight, the right to serve a Section 21 ('no-fault') eviction notice ends permanently. From 1 May 2026, the Section 21 procedure no longer exists in law. All new tenancies automatically become Assured Periodic Tenancies (APTs), and evictions must follow Section 8 mandatory grounds.
What you need to do before 30 April:
- If you have already served a valid Section 21 notice, it remains enforceable in court after 1 May — but you cannot re-serve it if it is found invalid
- If you intend to serve a Section 21 notice, it must be served by 30 April, giving the correct 2-month (or 4-month for newer tenancies) notice period
- Any fixed-term tenancy in a property where you plan to sell or carry out EPC upgrade works: make your decision now
The EPC angle: Many landlords with EPC F or G-rated properties were relying on Section 21 as an exit mechanism — regaining possession, then either upgrading or selling. That window closes on 30 April. After that, you will need to use Section 8 Ground 1A (genuine intention to sell) with a 4-month notice period, or upgrade the property while the tenant remains in situ.
Read our full analysis: Section 21 Abolished and EPC: What Changes on 1 May 2026 →
Strategic decision guide: Should You Sell or Upgrade Your EPC Non-Compliant Property? →
3. Renters' Rights Act Information Sheet — Serve to All Tenants by 31 May
⚠️ 60 days away
On 20 March 2026, the government published a new mandatory obligation: all private landlords in England must serve the official Renters' Rights Act Information Sheet on every existing tenant before 31 May 2026.
This is a government-produced document (available to download from gov.uk) that explains tenants' new rights under the Renters' Rights Act 2025, including the abolition of fixed-term tenancies and the new eviction grounds.
The penalty for missing the deadline: Up to £7,000 civil penalty for first breach. Repeat non-compliance can attract penalties up to £40,000 and a criminal record.
Key serving rules:
- You can serve via email (as an attachment, not a link), post, or hand delivery
- Keep a written record of when and how you served it (email delivery confirmation works)
- If you use a letting agent, your agent must serve it independently — their service does not absolve you of your own obligation
- The document must be the current official version from gov.uk
Complete step-by-step guide: Renters' Rights Act Information Sheet: How to Serve It Before the Deadline →
4. Air-to-Air Heat Pump Grant: £2,500 Now Available for Landlords
🆕 Launched April 2026
From April 2026, the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) expands to cover air-to-air heat pumps (sometimes called warm air heat pumps) — not just the air source and ground source heat pumps it previously covered.
Air-to-air units are cheaper to install than air source heat pumps (typical cost: around £4,000–£5,500 before the grant), and they work without a wet central heating system — which makes them accessible for flats, leasehold properties, and HMOs that would struggle with a standard ASHP installation.
Grant amount: £2,500 per property, paid directly to your MCS-certified installer and deducted from your bill.
Important EPC note: Under the current RdSAP methodology, an air-to-air unit does not count as the primary heating system (because it does not supply hot water or radiators). This means installing one is unlikely to shift your EPC band on its own, unless it is replacing direct electric heaters. However, under the incoming Home Energy Model (HEM) from late 2027, heating system metrics will be assessed differently.
Full guide: Air-to-Air Heat Pump Grant for Landlords: BUS £2,500 Explained →
5. Plug-In Solar Goes Legal on 15 April — A New Option for Landlords
🆕 Legal from 15 April 2026
BS 7671 Amendment 4 comes into force on 15 April 2026, providing the safety and wiring standard framework for plug-in solar kits (also called balcony solar or Balkonkraftwerk) in the UK. Kits at up to 800W can now be used legally — plugged into a standard socket, no planning permission required for most properties.
Typical cost: £400–£500 for a 2-panel setup. Expected energy bill saving: £70–£110 per year.
EPC impact: An 800W plug-in kit will not shift your EPC band under the current RdSAP methodology. The saving is real for tenants, but it will not appear as a meaningful uplift on your certificate.
The Renters' Rights Act angle: Under the RRA, landlords cannot unreasonably refuse a tenant's request to install a reversible, portable improvement. Plug-in solar kits are a prime example — if your tenant asks, you are likely obliged to allow it.
Full guide: Plug-In Solar for Landlords: EPC Impact and 2026 Legal Changes →
The EPC Backdrop: 4.5 Years to October 2030 — Don't Waste April
All five of the obligations above sit against a longer deadline: every privately rented property in England and Wales must reach EPC C by 1 October 2030, or landlords face penalties up to £30,000 per property.
Around 2.9 million rental properties currently fail to meet this standard.
The assessor shortage warning: On 30 March 2026, the NRLA published a formal response to the government's HEM consultation, warning of a "retrofitting skills gap" that could prevent EPC reforms from being achieved on time. NRLA chief executive Ben Beadle stated: "If it doesn't address the 'retrofitting skills gap' — the shortfall in those retrofitting professionals qualified to uphold EPC benchmarks — its changes to energy efficiency benchmarks are unlikely to succeed."
The practical implication: as we approach 2027, 2028, and 2029, the demand for qualified Domestic Energy Assessors (DEAs) will significantly outstrip supply. Appointment lead times will lengthen, and costs will rise. Landlords who begin the upgrade and assessment process now will be better placed — in timeline and cost — than those who wait.
Find an accredited assessor: How to Choose a Reliable EPC Assessor: A Landlord's Checklist →
Estimate your upgrade costs: Free EPC Cost Estimator by Property Type →
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Section 21 abolition affect my EPC compliance obligations?
Not directly — EPC compliance requirements are governed by MEES regulations, not the Renters' Rights Act. However, S21 abolition removes a practical mechanism landlords used to gain possession before selling or upgrading. From 1 May, you will need to stay in your property with the tenant in situ or use Ground 1A (intention to sell). See our S21 + EPC exit strategy guide for the full analysis.
Do I need to do anything to my EPC this April?
If your property is currently EPC E, F or G and you have tenants in situ, you are already non-compliant with current MEES rules (which require EPC E or above). You should take immediate action. If your property is EPC D and compliant with current MEES, you have until 2030 to reach C — but booking upgrade works now is advisable given the growing assessor shortage.
What happens if I miss the RRA Information Sheet deadline?
A local authority can issue a civil penalty of up to £7,000 for first breach. If you are already the subject of a Rent Repayment Order, or have a history of non-compliance, the financial exposure is higher. Serve the document now and keep proof that you did.
Does MTD for Income Tax apply to all landlords from 6 April?
No. The 6 April 2026 threshold is £50,000 gross rental income. If your gross income is between £30,000 and £50,000, MTD becomes mandatory from April 2027. Below £30,000, a later date will be confirmed. Note: gross income means total rent received before expenses, not your taxable profit.
This article was published on 1 April 2026 and reflects the law as confirmed at that date. EPC reform timelines and Renters' Rights Act implementation dates are subject to statutory instruments and secondary legislation.