Renters' Rights 2026 - Tenant Selection and Fairness

Renters’ Rights 2026 – A Landlord’s Guide for Taunton, Wellington, Bridgwater & Somerset

Following on from Rental Bidding Ban, we now discuss about Tenant Selection and Fairness

Tenant Selection and Fairness – Staying Compliant While Protecting Your Property

Stronger emphasis on fairness and anti-discrimination in the rental market does not mean landlords must accept unsuitable applications. What it does mean is that decisions should be based on genuine suitability, evidence, and affordability rather than blanket assumptions.

This is an important distinction. Landlords still have every right to protect their property and make careful decisions. The difference is that those decisions need to be fair, consistent, and properly reasoned.

That is why a structured referencing process is so valuable. Rather than making assumptions based on a broad category, landlords should be looking at the actual application in front of them:

• income and affordability,
• credit profile,
• previous landlord conduct,
• employment stability,
• and supporting information such as a guarantor where needed.

This approach is better for everyone. It supports compliance, creates a more professional lettings process, and usually leads to better decisions overall.

For landlords, it is also a reminder that the strongest protection often comes from systems rather than instinct. Consistent application procedures, clear notes on decisions, and documented criteria help reduce risk and improve confidence.

In practical terms, this is about running your let like a business. Fairness and good risk management are not opposites — they work best together.

If you are unsure how this affects you as a landlord, call us on 01823 740056 or email info@sjmpropertiessw.com
to see how we can assist.