Updated September 2026

Tenancies can be created with little formality; no documentation is actually necessary, and negotiations between landlord and tenant could, and often are, conducted by a third-party agent. A tenant can therefore be in a legally binding relationship with their landlord but know very little about who they are, which, when you think about it, is a little odd...

However, various statutory provisions give the tenant the right to be informed of the landlord's name and address. Following the Renters' Rights Act 2025, a growing set of new transparency obligations sit alongside them.

Under section 48 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, a landlord must provide the tenant with a valid UK address for the service of notices. If no address is provided, any rent or service charge due is treated as not being due until the landlord complies.

This should be borne in mind when a landlord acquires a tenancy by way of assignment having purchased the property. It is crucial that s48 is complied with and the tenant is given the new landlord's name and address - and evidence of this information having been provided is retained! The information is required to be served no later than 2 months after the date of transfer, or if rent is not payable within that period, no later than the next day on which rent is payable.

Scarily, if the tenant is not informed of the new landlord's name, the previous landlord remains liable for any breach of the tenancy agreement - so if you are selling a tenanted property, make sure that notice is served.

Under s1 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, a tenant may make a written request for their landlord's name and address to any persons demanding rent, persons who last received rent or anyone acting as the landlord's agent. The person in receipt of the rent must comply within 21 days.

If the landlord fails to provide a valid address, the landlord will be committing a criminal offence for which they may be prosecuted and face a fine.

So what happens if a landlord lives abroad?

The landlord must appoint an agent with a UK address, and the agent has to be authorised to accept notices from the landlord.

If the landlord fails to provide a valid address to the tenant, in addition to the commission of an offence, there exists a breach of contract and the chances of succeeding in a claim for rent in arrears or dilapidations will be scarce.

The best option for a landlord who lives abroad is to agree management of the property with an agent - this also ensures the landlord can comply with the numerous other obligations under the tenancy promptly, i.e. carrying out repairs.

New landlord transparency duties under the Renters' Rights Act 2025

These long-standing disclosure duties under sections 1 and 48 haven't gone away, but the Renters' Rights Act 2025 has now added several new layers of landlord transparency on top of them, all designed to make it easier for tenants (and enforcement bodies) to know exactly who they're dealing with.

Landlords with an existing assured or assured shorthold tenancy created before 1 May 2026 were required to give every named tenant a copy of the government's official Information Sheet by 31 May 2026, explaining how the Act's reforms affect their tenancy. Where the tenancy was agreed verbally, landlords instead had to provide a written summary of the key terms by the same date. Missing that deadline can mean a civil penalty of up to £7,000 per tenancy, rising to as much as £40,000 (or prosecution) if the breach continues.

The Renters' Rights Act is introducing a new Private Rented Sector (PRS) Database, which all private landlords in England will need to join, alongside registering their properties and compliance information. Registration is being rolled out in phases from late 2026 (starting with the West Midlands), and will sit alongside, not replace, the existing s.1 and s.48 disclosure duties. It's intended to give tenants and councils a formal, centralised way of identifying who a landlord is and confirming they're meeting their obligations.

A new Private Rented Sector Landlord Ombudsman is also being introduced as part of the same phased rollout, giving tenants a formal route to raise complaints and seek redress without going to court. Sign-up is expected to become mandatory for all private landlords from 2028.

Taken together, these measures continue the theme this article has always been about: a tenant's basic right to know who their landlord is, and to have a reliable way of holding them to account.

Contact our Experienced Landlord & Tenant Solicitors

Whether you're new to the landlord scene or an experienced property owner, navigating these legal waters can be challenging. Our team, led by Anna Hughes, is well-versed in landlord and tenant law and is ready to assist you with any queries or concerns you may have.

For expert legal advice from experienced landlord solicitors, contact our team via contact@woodstocklegalservices.co.uk or complete the form below.