The Good Landlord Handbook

The Good Landlord Handbook: How to succeed as a landlord and comply with the Renters’ Rights Act

Available in paperback and ebook.

This book is essential reading for anyone involved in the private rented sector in England.

The Renters' Rights Act 2025 has overhauled the rules for landlords in England. From 1 May 2026 there are complex obligations at every stage of a tenancy, with significant penalties if landlords and letting agents get them wrong.

The Good Landlord Handbook does not just explain the Renters' Rights Act, but it explains what the new regime means in practice, at every stage of a tenancy for single lets, HMOs and high rent tenancies. 

Written by Suzanne Smith, a widely respected expert on the Renters' Rights Act and former corporate solicitor, she combines her legal expertise with hands-on landlord experience in this comprehensive, practical handbook.

What's inside The Good Landlord Handbook?

This detailed yet digestible book is structured around the lifecycle of a tenancy:

• Foundations: The business of being a landlord, a plain-English overview of the Renters' Rights Act, key legal obligations, and how to work with (or without) letting agents.

• Before the tenancy: Getting a property ready to let, setting rent under the new rules, finding and vetting tenants, setting up a compliant tenancy, and checking tenants in.

• During the tenancy: Property management for single lets and HMOs, self-managing, managing letting agents, handling repairs, damp and mould, subletting, pets, inspections, rent in advance, rent increases, and rent arrears.

• Ending the tenancy: The end of Section 21, the revamped Section 8 grounds for possession, serving notices, recovering possession, deposit returns, and everything in between.

The Renters' Rights Act is not just covered in a standalone chapter or as an bolt-on. It is integrated throughout the book, because this is how landlords now need to operate.

With over 100 footnotes for those who want to dig deeper, plus extensive appendices covering legislation, civil penalties, and fines implementation timelines, and further resources, this is a book you'll keep coming back to.

Why being a good landlord makes good sense

The book helps landlords by focusing on how to provide a high quality service, as good landlords. 

Tenants are landlords' customers, and landlords who provide a great service build stronger businesses.

When landlords focus on giving people a genuinely good home in compliance with landlords' many legal obligations, the tenants stay longer, the problems are fewer, and the business takes care of itself.

Who is this book suitable for? 

This is a practical handbook is perfect for anyone involved in the private rented sector, including:

• First time landlords
• Accidental landlords
• Landlord with a small or large portfolios
• Property investors
• HMO landlords
• Letting agents
• Service providers like mortgage brokers
• Local government officials

PS Buy the book and get £10 off The Independent Landlord Hub, my membership community, with step-by-step courses, ask me questions at live Q&A livestreams, checklists, templates, and a supportive community of landlords. Details inside the book.