OpenLegislation

The Private Landlord Redress Schemes (Approval and Designation) Regulations 2026

Draft. This instrument was laid in draft and may differ from the one made. Look for the made version under its title.

Draft 2026, ISBN 9780348282801

Original text. legislation.gov.uk does not revise statutory instruments, so later amendments are not shown here. Changes made to it are listed under each provision when known.

Draft Regulations laid before Parliament under section 140(5) of the Renters’ Rights Act 2025, for approval by resolution of each House of Parliament.

REDRESS SCHEME, ENGLAND

LANDLORD AND TENANT, ENGLAND

Made ***

Coming into force in accordance with regulation 1(2)

The Secretary of State makes these Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 65 and 140(1)(a) of the Renters’ Rights Act 2025f1.

These Regulations have been laid before and approved by a resolution of each House of Parliament in accordance with section 140(5) of the Renters’ Rights Act 2025.

Annotations to the whole text

Footnotes

f1

2025 c. 26.

Contents

  1. 1Citation, commencement, extent and interpretation
  2. 2Application for approval of a scheme
  3. 3Approval or designation of a scheme
  4. 4Amendment of a scheme
  5. 5Withdrawal of approval of a scheme
  6. 6Revocation of designation of a scheme
  7. 7Disclosure of information
  8. 8Form of notices, notifications and directions
  9. Signature
  10. Schedule: Conditions
  11. Part 1: Conditions: approval and designation
  12. 1Conditions relating to the responsible individual
  13. 2Condition relating to conflict of interest
  14. 3Conditions relating to complaints under the scheme
  15. 4Conditions relating to redress
  16. 5Conditions relating to enforcement
  17. 6Conditions relating to expulsion
  18. 7Conditions relating to fees
  19. 8Conditions relating to co-operation with other persons
  20. 9Conditions relating to disclosure of information
  21. 10Conditions relating to reporting
  22. 11Conditions relating to review of the scheme
  23. 12Condition relating to complaints about the operation of the scheme
  24. 13Conditions relating to transfer of administration
  25. 14Conditions relating to closure events
  26. 15Condition relating to leaving the scheme
  27. 16Conditions relating to other functions
  28. 17Conditions relating to guidance for scheme administrator and local housing authority
  29. 18Conditions relating to access to the scheme by post or telephone
  30. 19Condition relating to the form of notices, notifications, directions, orders and delegations
  31. Part 2: Conditions: approval
  32. 20Conditions relating to closure of the scheme by the scheme administrator
  33. Explanatory note

1Citation, commencement, extent and interpretation

(1)

These Regulations may be cited as the Private Landlord Redress Schemes (Approval and Designation) Regulations 2026.

(2)

These Regulations come into force on the day after the day on which they are made.

(3)

These Regulations extend to England and Wales.

(4)

In these Regulations—

  • “the Act” means the Renters’ Rights Act 2025;

  • “closure event” means—

    1. (a)

      a withdrawal of the approval of a scheme under regulation 5(1);

    2. (b)

      a revocation of the designation of a scheme under regulation 6(1);

    3. (c)

      closure of the scheme under provision included in a scheme in accordance with Part 2 of the Schedule;

  • “enforcement order” has the meaning given in paragraph 5(1)(a)(ii) of the Schedule;

  • “private rented sector” means—

    1. (a)

      premises that are let, or intended to be let, under a residential tenancyf1;

    2. (b)

      the common parts of such premises;

    3. (c)

      the activities of a landlord under a residential tenancy;

    4. (d)

      the activities of a superior landlord in relation to such a tenancy;

    5. (e)

      the activities of a person carrying on English letting agency work within the meaning of section 54 of the Housing and Planning Act 2016f2 in relation to such premises;

    6. (f)

      the activities of a person carrying on English property management work within the meaning of section 55 of the Housing and Planning Act 2016 in relation to such premises;

  • “redress order” has the meaning given in paragraph 4(a) of the Schedule;

  • “responsible individual” means, in relation to a scheme, the individual who is responsible for overseeing and monitoring the investigation and determination of complaints under the scheme;

  • “scheme administrator” includes a proposed scheme administrator;

  • “tenant” means a prospective, current or former residential tenantf3;

  • “working day” means any day other than—

    1. (a)

      a Saturday or a Sunday,

    2. (b)

      Christmas Day or Good Friday, or

    3. (c)

      a day which is a bank holiday in England and Wales under the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971f4.

2Application for approval of a scheme

An application for approval of a scheme under section 64(2)(b)(i) of the Act must—

(a)

be made by the scheme administrator,

(b)

be made in such form and manner as the Secretary of State may determine,

(c)

include such information as the Secretary of State may require, and

(d)

be accompanied by such documents as the Secretary of State may require.

3Approval or designation of a scheme

(1)

A scheme may be approved under section 64(2)(b)(i) of the Act only if it satisfies the conditions set out in the Schedule.

(2)

A scheme may be designated under section 64(2)(b)(ii) of the Act only if it satisfies the conditions set out in Part 1 of the Schedule.

(3)

The Secretary of State must notify the scheme administrator of an approval of a scheme under section 64(2)(b)(i) of the Act.

(4)

The Secretary of State must, where the scheme is to be administered on behalf of the Secretary of State, notify the scheme administrator of a designation of a scheme under section 64(2)(b)(ii) of the Act.

(5)

Once a scheme has been approved or designated under section 64(2)(b) of the Act, the Secretary of State may direct the scheme administrator to publish the scheme and, as appropriate—

(a)

a statement that the scheme has been approved under section 64(2)(b)(i) of the Act, or

(b)

a statement that the scheme has been designated under section 64(2)(b)(ii) of the Act.

(6)

The scheme administrator must not publish the scheme or the statement until the Secretary of State makes a direction under paragraph (5).

(7)

Where the administration of an approved scheme is transferred to the Secretary of State, or to a person acting on behalf of the Secretary of State, the scheme is to be treated as a designated scheme instead of an approved one.

4Amendment of a scheme

(1)

A scheme approved under section 64(2)(b)(i) of the Act may be amended only with the approval of the Secretary of State.

(2)

Regulation 2 applies in relation to an application for the Secretary of State’s approval of an amendment of a scheme as it applies in relation to an application for approval of a scheme under section 64(2)(b)(i) of the Act.

(3)

An amendment to a scheme may be approved by the Secretary of State only if the amended scheme satisfies the conditions set out in the Schedule.

(4)

A scheme designated under section 64(2)(b)(ii) of the Act may be amended by the Secretary of State only if the amended scheme satisfies the conditions set out in the Schedule.

(5)

The Secretary of State must notify the scheme administrator of an approval of an amendment under paragraph (1).

(6)

The Secretary of State must, where the scheme is administered on behalf of the Secretary of State, notify the scheme administrator of a designation of an amendment under section 64(2)(b)(ii) of the Act.

(7)

Where a scheme approved or designated under section 64(2)(b) of the Act is amended, the Secretary of State may direct the scheme administrator to publish—

(a)

the scheme as amended, and

(b)

as appropriate, either—

(i)

a statement that the scheme, as amended, has been approved under section 64(2)(b)(i) of the Act and paragraph (1) of this regulation, or

(ii)

a statement that the scheme, as amended, has been designated under section 64(2)(b)(ii) of the Act.

(8)

The scheme administrator must not publish the scheme or the statement until the Secretary of State makes a direction under paragraph (7).

5Withdrawal of approval of a scheme

(1)

An approval of a scheme under section 64(2)(b)(i) of the Act remains valid until it is withdrawn by the Secretary of State.

(2)

Before withdrawing approval of a scheme, the Secretary of State must give the scheme administrator a notice stating—

(a)

that the Secretary of State proposes to withdraw approval of the scheme,

(b)

the reasons for the proposed withdrawal of approval, and

(c)

that representations about the proposed withdrawal of approval may be made within such period of not less than 10 working days as is specified in the notice.

(3)

Where, after the period specified in the notice given under paragraph (2) expires, the Secretary of State decides to withdraw approval, the Secretary of State must give the scheme administrator a notice stating—

(a)

that approval of the scheme is to be withdrawn,

(b)

the reasons for withdrawing approval, and

(c)

the date on which the withdrawal of approval is to take effect.

(4)

Where the Secretary of State gives the scheme administrator a notice under paragraph (3), the scheme administrator must—

(a)

before the end of the period of 25 working days beginning with the day on which the scheme administrator received the notice, give a notice to every scheme member stating—

(i)

that approval of the scheme is to be withdrawn, and

(ii)

the date on which the withdrawal of approval is to take effect;

(b)

before the withdrawal of approval takes effect, provide to the scheme administrator of another landlord redress scheme such information relating to—

(i)

scheme members, and

(ii)

complaints made under the scheme (including complaints which have been closed),

as would enable that scheme administrator to continue the operation of the compulsory aspectsf1 of the scheme.

(5)

Where, under paragraph (4)(b), there is more than one scheme administrator to whom the information might be provided, the Secretary of State may direct the scheme administrator as to which of those scheme administrators to provide the information to.

6Revocation of designation of a scheme

(1)

A designation of a scheme under section 64(2)(b)(ii) of the Act remains valid until it is revoked by the Secretary of State.

(2)

Where the scheme is administered on behalf of the Secretary of State, the Secretary of State must, before revoking the designation of the scheme, give a notice to the scheme administrator including the following statements—

(a)

that the designation of the scheme is to be revoked, and

(b)

the date on which the revocation of designation is to take effect.

(3)

Where the Secretary of State has given the scheme administrator a notice under paragraph (2), the scheme administrator must—

(a)

before the end of the period of 25 working days beginning with the day on which the scheme administrator received the notice, give a notice to every scheme member stating—

(i)

that designation of the scheme is to be revoked, and

(ii)

the date on which the revocation of designation is to take effect;

(b)

before the revocation of designation takes effect, provide to the scheme administrator of another landlord redress scheme such information relating to—

(i)

scheme members, and

(ii)

complaints made under the scheme (including complaints which have been closed),

as would enable that scheme administrator to continue the operation of the compulsory aspects of the scheme.

(4)

Where, under paragraph (3)(b), there is more than one scheme administrator to whom the information might be provided, the Secretary of State may direct the scheme administrator as to which of those scheme administrators to provide the information to.

7Disclosure of information

A disclosure of information authorised or required by these Regulations or by provision included in a scheme in accordance with these Regulations does not breach—

(a)

any obligation of confidence owed by the person making the disclosure in relation to that information, or

(b)

any other restriction on the disclosure of information (however imposed).

8Form of notices, notifications and directions

A notice, notification or direction given in accordance with these Regulations must be given in writing.

Signature

Signed by the authority of the Secretary of State

Name

Minister of State

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Date

1Conditions relating to the responsible individual

(1)

The scheme must provide—

(a)

for the appointment by the Secretary of State of an individual to be the responsible individual for the scheme;

(b)

that the responsible individual is to be appointed by the Secretary of State on such terms and conditions as the Secretary of State thinks fit;

(c)

that the Secretary of State may at any time terminate the responsible individual’s appointment;

(d)

that the Secretary of State may not terminate the responsible individual’s appointment because of dissatisfaction with a particular decision of the responsible individual on a complaint under the scheme.

(2)

Where the scheme provides for the responsible individual to be employed by the scheme administrator, the scheme must provide that—

(a)

the responsible individual is to be employed by the scheme administrator on such terms and conditions as the Secretary of State thinks fit;

(b)

the Secretary of State may at any time give the scheme administrator a direction to cease to employ the individual who is the responsible individual as the responsible individual (and may revoke or vary such a direction by a further direction);

(c)

the Secretary of State may not give a direction under provision included in the scheme in accordance with paragraph (b) because of dissatisfaction with a particular decision of the responsible individual on a complaint under the scheme.

(3)

Where the scheme provides that the scheme administrator is to be a body corporate, the scheme must provide that—

(a)

the Secretary of State may delegate to the scheme administrator any function of the Secretary of State under a provision included in the scheme in accordance with sub-paragraph (1) or (2)(a);

(b)

a delegation to the scheme administrator may specify—

(i)

the extent to which the function is delegated;

(ii)

any conditions to which the delegation is subject;

(c)

a delegation to the scheme administrator—

(i)

may be varied or revoked by the Secretary of State at any time;

(ii)

does not prevent the Secretary of State from exercising the function.

(4)

The scheme must provide—

(a)

that for an individual to be appointed as the responsible individual, the individual—

(i)

must be, and be seen as, impartial,

(ii)

must have the skills and competencies needed for the role,

(iii)

must not be a scheme member, and

(iv)

must declare any conflicts of interest;

(b)

that, if the responsible individual is aware that they have a conflict of interest in relation to a complaint under the scheme, they must arrange for staff to act on their behalf in relation to the complaint;

(c)

for the appointment of staff by the scheme administrator, including a leader or leadership team, to administer the scheme and assist the responsible individual;

(d)

that a member of staff designated by the scheme administrator may act on behalf of the responsible individual if the responsible individual is unable to fulfil their duties;

(e)

for mechanisms to provide oversight of the responsible individual, including—

(i)

a performance review process;

(ii)

a process allowing staff to raise concerns about the responsible individual with the Secretary of State.

2Condition relating to conflict of interest

The scheme must provide that an individual must not investigate or determine a complaint under the scheme if they are aware that they have a conflict of interest in relation to that complaint.

3Conditions relating to complaints under the scheme

(1)

The scheme must include provision about—

(a)

the complaints that may be made under the scheme;

(b)

the time to be allowed for scheme members to resolve a matter before a complaint in relation to the matter is accepted under the scheme;

(c)

who may make a complaint on behalf of a tenant;

(d)

the circumstances in which a complaint may be rejected;

(e)

the procedure for the handling of complaints under the scheme.

(2)

Provision included in the scheme in accordance with sub-paragraph (1)(a) must include provision enabling the making of complaints about non-compliance with any—

(a)

codes of practice for residential landlordsf1, or

(b)

other documents setting out standards or guidance for residential landlords,

that are issued or approved by the Secretary of State.

(3)

The scheme must provide that a complaint may be accepted under the scheme only if—

(a)

it is made before the end of a period, specified in the scheme, beginning with the first day on which the complaint could be accepted under the scheme, or

(b)

the complaint is made after that period but conditions set out in the scheme are met.

(4)

The scheme must provide that an individual determining a complaint under the scheme must determine the complaint by reference to what is, in the individual’s opinion, fair and reasonable in all the circumstances of the case.

4Conditions relating to redress

The scheme must provide that—

(a)

the individual determining a complaint may, in circumstances specified in the scheme, make an order requiring a scheme member to provide redress (“redress order”) of the following types to the complainant—

(i)

providing an apology or explanation;

(ii)

paying compensation of no more than £25,000;

(iii)

taking such other actions in the interests of the complainant as the person determining the complaint may specify;

(b)

where it would be practicable for the scheme member to provide evidence of their having provided the redress required by a redress order, the order may require the member to do so;

(c)

a redress order must specify the period within which the scheme member concerned must comply with the requirements of the order;

(d)

in determining the period mentioned in sub-paragraph (c), the circumstances of the particular case must be taken into account.

5Conditions relating to enforcement

(1)

The scheme must provide that—

(a)

where the responsible individual reasonably suspects that a scheme member has failed to comply with the scheme, a redress order or any other decision made under the scheme, the responsible individual may—

(i)

take enforcement action in accordance with the scheme;

(ii)

make an order requiring the member to take a specified action within a specified period (“an enforcement order”);

(b)

before taking enforcement action or making an enforcement order, the responsible individual must consider—

(i)

any reasonable excuse for the member’s failure to comply raised by the member, and

(ii)

whether the enforcement action or enforcement order is in the public interest.

(2)

The scheme must include provision setting out a process for assessing and responding to scheme members’ non-compliance.

6Conditions relating to expulsion

(1)

The scheme must provide that the responsible individual may expel a scheme member from the scheme only—

(a)

where the member has—

(i)

failed to comply with a redress order;

(ii)

failed to comply with an enforcement order;

(iii)

failed to pay fees or fines when due under the scheme;

(iv)

submitted information or evidence which is false or misleading to the scheme administrator, responsible individual or an individual investigating or determining a complaint;

(v)

obstructed or attempted to obstruct the investigation or determination of a complaint under the scheme;

(vi)

breached a relevant banning order, and

(b)

once—

(i)

the responsible individual has informed the member that the member risks being expelled and the reason for this,

(ii)

the member has been given an opportunity to make written representations about the decision to expel them,

(iii)

the decision to expel the member has been reviewed by an independent person after considering any written representations made,

(iv)

the independent person has provided the responsible individual with a report on their review, and

(v)

the responsible individual has considered the report and any written representations.

(2)

The scheme must provide that—

(a)

the responsible individual must notify an expelled scheme member of the reasonably practicable action they must take in order to remedy their wrongdoing;

(b)

the responsible individual must revoke an expulsion where the scheme member has taken the reasonably practicable action notified to the member by the responsible individual in accordance with the provision included in the scheme in accordance with paragraph (a);

(c)

where it is not possible for the expelled scheme member to take reasonably practicable action to remedy their wrongdoing, the responsible individual may revoke the expulsion where the responsible individual considers it appropriate to do so.

(3)

The scheme must provide that a person is prohibited from joining the scheme when the person has been expelled from another landlord redress scheme, except where—

(a)

the expulsion has been revoked, or

(b)

the scheme which expelled the person has closed and—

(i)

the person has taken the reasonably practicable action notified to them by the responsible individual for the scheme which expelled the person,

(ii)

the person has taken the reasonably practicable action notified to them by the responsible individual for the scheme, or

(iii)

where it is not possible for the person to take reasonably practicable action to remedy their wrongdoing, the responsible individual considers it appropriate to allow them to join the scheme.

(4)

In this paragraph, “relevant banning order” has the meaning given in section 83(12) of the Act.

7Conditions relating to fees

(1)

The scheme must—

(a)

provide for fees to be payable by scheme members in respect of the compulsory aspects of the scheme (“compulsory fees”);

(b)

if there are voluntary aspectsf1 of the scheme, provide for fees to be payable by scheme members in respect of the voluntary aspects of the scheme (“voluntary fees”).

(2)

The scheme must provide that, where there are no voluntary aspects, the compulsory fees must be calculated so that they are sufficient to meet, but do not exceed, the scheme costsf2.

(3)

The scheme must provide that, where there are voluntary aspects—

(a)

the compulsory fees are to consist of—

(i)

a first portion, the amount of which must be calculated so that the fees, in so far as they relate to this portion, are sufficient to meet, but do not exceed, the compulsory costs, and

(ii)

a second portion, the amount of which must be calculated so that the fees, in so far as they relate to this portion, are sufficient to meet, but do not exceed, such of the voluntary establishment costs as the scheme administrator considers appropriate;

(b)

the voluntary fees are to consist of—

(i)

a first portion, the amount of which must be calculated so that the fees, in so far as they relate to this portion, are sufficient to meet, but do not exceed, the costs of the voluntary aspectsf3 other than the voluntary establishment costs, and

(ii)

a second portion, the amount of which must be calculated so that the fees, in so far as they relate to this portion, are sufficient to meet, but do not exceed, such of the voluntary establishment costs as the scheme administrator considers appropriate;

(c)

the combined amount of the second portion of the compulsory fees and the second portion of the voluntary fees must be calculated so that the fees, in so far as they relate to those portions, are sufficient to meet, but do not exceed, the voluntary establishment costs;

(d)

in relation to the second portion of the compulsory fees and the second portion of the voluntary fees, the scheme administrator may consider that it is appropriate for the amount of one of the two portions to be zero.

(4)

The scheme must provide that calculations of fees under provision included in the scheme in accordance with sub-paragraphs (2) and (3) may take one year with another.

(5)

The scheme must—

(a)

provide that fee amounts must be fair and proportionate;

(b)

include provision—

(i)

setting out how regularly the fee amounts will be reviewed;

(ii)

about exceptional circumstances in which fee amounts might be reviewed in between regular reviews;

(c)

provide that any increase in fee amounts must be approved by the Secretary of State.

(6)

In this paragraph—

  • “compulsory costs” means the scheme costs other than the costs of the voluntary aspects;

  • “voluntary establishment costs” means the costs that are incurred in or associated with, or likely to be incurred in or associated with, the establishment of the voluntary aspects of the scheme.

8Conditions relating to co-operation with other persons

The scheme must provide—

(a)

that the scheme administrator, responsible individual or an individual investigating or determining a complaint may co-operate (including by jointly exercising functions) with—

(i)

persons exercising functions under other landlord redress schemes,

(ii)

persons exercising functions in relation to other kinds of complaint,

(iii)

persons exercising enforcement or regulatory functions in relation to the private rented sector, and

(iv)

the Secretary of State;

(b)

that an individual investigating or determining a complaint must consider co-operating with the persons mentioned in sub-paragraph (a).

9Conditions relating to disclosure of information

(1)

The scheme must provide that the scheme administrator, the responsible individual or an individual investigating or determining a complaint may disclose information held in connection with functions under the scheme to—

(a)

any of the following persons, for the purposes specified in sub-paragraph (2)—

(i)

a person exercising functions under another landlord redress scheme;

(ii)

a person exercising functions in relation to another kind of complaint;

(iii)

a person exercising enforcement or regulatory functions in relation to the private rented sector;

(b)

a person exercising social services functions where, during an investigation of a complaint under the scheme, there is reasonable cause to believe that a child or vulnerable adult is at risk of neglect, abuse or physical, mental or emotional harm;

(c)

a constable, where necessary for a purpose—

(i)

relating to the prevention, detection, investigation or prosecution of an offence,

(ii)

of the police relating to public health or public safety, or

(iii)

relating to national security;

(d)

the database operator for the purpose of—

(i)

enabling database entries to be made and kept up-to-date;

(ii)

checking the accuracy of database entries.

(2)

The purposes specified in this paragraph are—

(a)

enabling the person to assist with the exercise of functions under the scheme;

(b)

assisting with—

(i)

in the case of a person exercising functions under another landlord redress scheme, the exercise of functions under that scheme,

(ii)

in the case of a person exercising functions in relation to another kind of complaint, the exercise of those functions, or

(iii)

in the case of a person exercising enforcement or regulatory functions in relation to the private rented sector, the exercise of those functions;

(c)

enabling co-operation (including joint exercise of functions) authorised by provision included in the scheme in accordance with paragraph 8(a).

(3)

The scheme must provide that the scheme administrator, the responsible individual or an individual investigating or determining a complaint may publish the following information about scheme members who have been expelled—

(a)

name;

(b)

registration number under the scheme;

(c)

unique identifier under section 84 of the Act;

(d)

addresses of properties subject to residential tenancies under which the member is the residential landlord.

(4)

In this paragraph—

  • “child” means a person under the age of 16;

  • “database operator” has the meaning given in section 76(1) of the Act;

  • “social services functions” has the meaning given in section 1A of the Local Authority Social Services Act 1970f1;

  • “vulnerable adult” means a person aged 16 or over whose ability to protect themselves from violence, abuse or neglect is significantly impaired through physical or mental disability or illness, through old age or otherwise.

10Conditions relating to reporting

(1)

The scheme must provide that—

(a)

the scheme administrator must annually prepare and publish the documents specified in sub-paragraph (2);

(b)

where the scheme administrator is not the Secretary of State, the scheme administrator—

(i)

must send the documents specified in sub-paragraph (2) to the Secretary of State before publishing them, and

(ii)

must not publish those documents until they have been approved by the Secretary of State;

(c)

the scheme administrator must disclose to the Secretary of State such information as the Secretary of State may request for the purpose of monitoring the performance of the scheme.

(2)

The documents are—

(a)

a document describing—

(i)

the scheme administrator’s objectives for the next year,

(ii)

how they plan to achieve these objectives, and

(iii)

a list of key performance indicators for the scheme;

(b)

a report including a review of the scheme’s performance against the key performance indicators included in the document specified in paragraph (a) which was published the previous year;

(c)

accounts prepared in such manner as is determined by the Secretary of State.

11Conditions relating to review of the scheme

(1)

The scheme must provide that—

(a)

the scheme administrator must conduct a review of the provisions of the scheme to determine whether they meet the needs of the persons specified in sub-paragraph (2)—

(i)

within the period of five years beginning with the date of approval or designation of the scheme, and

(ii)

within each period of five years beginning with the day after the day on which the last review of the scheme was completed;

(b)

a review must include consultation with—

(i)

scheme members, and

(ii)

tenants under residential tenancies under which the landlord is a scheme member;

(c)

where the scheme administrator is not the Secretary of State, the scheme administrator must, after conducting a review, send to the Secretary of State a report setting out the findings of the review, including—

(i)

the amendments to the scheme that appear to the scheme administrator to be appropriate, or

(ii)

a statement that the scheme administrator considers that the scheme should not be amended;

(d)

in the case of a scheme which has been approved under section 64(2)(b)(i) of the Act, where the scheme administrator has sent a report to the Secretary of State which includes amendments, the scheme administrator must make an application for amendment of the scheme in accordance with regulation 4(2);

(e)

the scheme administrator must provide any information requested by the Secretary of State in relation to the review.

(2)

The persons are—

(a)

residential tenants;

(b)

residential landlords;

(c)

such other persons as the Secretary of State may direct.

12Condition relating to complaints about the operation of the scheme

The scheme must include provision enabling the making of complaints, by scheme members and tenants, about the operation of the scheme.

13Conditions relating to transfer of administration

The scheme must provide that—

(a)

the administration of the scheme may be transferred to a different administrator only by direction of the Secretary of State;

(b)

the Secretary of State may direct that the administration of the scheme be transferred to a different administrator where the Secretary of State considers that it is appropriate to do so.

14Conditions relating to closure events

(1)

The scheme must include provision setting out a process for facilitating the orderly transfer of scheme members to another landlord redress scheme in the case of a closure event.

(2)

The scheme must provide that the Secretary of State may direct the scheme administrator to take such actions as the Secretary of State considers are appropriate in connection with a closure event.

(3)

The scheme must provide that the scheme administrator, the responsible individual and an individual investigating or determining a complaint may disclose information held in connection with the scheme to the Secretary of State for purposes connected with a closure event.

15Condition relating to leaving the scheme

The scheme must provide that, where—

(a)

a scheme member intends to leave the scheme and join another landlord redress scheme, including in connection with a closure event, and

(b)

there are three or more landlord redress schemes operating (including the scheme to which the member currently belongs),

the member must give a notice in writing to the scheme administrator stating which scheme the member is intending to join.

16Conditions relating to other functions

The scheme must provide that the responsible individual may do anything that the responsible individual considers appropriate for the purpose of—

(a)

enabling the investigation and determination of complaints under the scheme;

(b)

supporting tenants in making complaints under the scheme;

(c)

facilitating the resolution of complaints of a sort which could be made under the scheme;

(d)

contributing to the development of policy in relation to matters about which a complaint could be made under the scheme.

17Conditions relating to guidance for scheme administrator and local housing authority

The scheme must provide that—

(a)

the scheme administrator, and

(b)

the responsible individual,

must have regard to any guidance issued or approved under section 70(1) of the Act (guidance on cooperation between local housing authorities and persons exercising functions under landlord redress schemes).

18Conditions relating to access to the scheme by post or telephone

The scheme must provide that, where necessary in order to access the service—

(a)

a tenant may—

(i)

submit a complaint and other documents relating to the scheme, and

(ii)

receive documents relating to the scheme from the scheme administrator,

by post;

(b)

a residential landlord may apply to become a member of the scheme by post or by telephone;

(c)

a scheme member may—

(i)

submit documents relating to the scheme, and

(ii)

receive documents relating to the scheme from the scheme administrator,

by post;

(d)

a tenant or a scheme member may submit a complaint about the operation of the scheme by post or by telephone.

19Condition relating to the form of notices, notifications, directions, orders and delegations

The scheme must provide that a notice, notification, direction, order, delegation, variation of a delegation or revocation of a delegation given in accordance with provision included in the scheme in accordance with this Schedule must be given in writing.

20Conditions relating to closure of the scheme by the scheme administrator

(1)

The scheme must provide that—

(a)

the scheme administrator may close the scheme where the scheme administrator considers it appropriate to do so;

(b)

the scheme administrator must, before closing the scheme, give the Secretary of State a notice stating that the scheme administrator intends to close the scheme;

(c)

the Secretary of State must, within the period of 25 working days beginning with the date on which the Secretary of State received a notice given under the provision included in the scheme in accordance with paragraph (b), direct the scheme administrator as to the date on which the scheme is to be closed;

(d)

the date on which the scheme is to be closed under the direction of the Secretary of State under provision included in the scheme in accordance with paragraph (c) must be within the period of 18 months beginning with the date of the direction;

(e)

where the Secretary of State makes a direction under provision included in the scheme in accordance with paragraph (c), the scheme administrator must give to every scheme member, within such period as the Secretary of State may direct, a notice stating—

(i)

that the scheme is to be closed, and

(ii)

the date on which the scheme is to be closed;

(f)

the scheme administrator must, before the scheme is closed, provide to the scheme administrator of another landlord redress scheme such information relating to—

(i)

scheme members, and

(ii)

complaints made under the scheme (including complaints which have been closed),

as would enable that scheme administrator to continue the operation of the compulsory aspects of the scheme;

(g)

where, under paragraph (f), there is more than one scheme administrator to whom the information might be provided, the Secretary of State may direct the scheme administrator as to which of those scheme administrators to provide the information to.

(2)

The scheme must provide that where the administration of the scheme has been transferred to the Secretary of State, or to a person acting on behalf of the Secretary of State, under provision included in the scheme in accordance with paragraph 13, the scheme administrator may not exercise the power conferred by provision included in the scheme in accordance with sub-paragraph (1)(a).

(3)

The scheme must provide that, where the scheme administrator has given the Secretary of State a notice under provision included in the scheme in accordance with sub-paragraph (1)(b) stating that the scheme administrator intends to close the scheme, the Secretary of State may, at any time before the scheme closes, transfer the administration of the scheme to a different administrator under provision included in the scheme in accordance with paragraph 13.

Explanatory note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

Section 64(2) of the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 (c. 26) (“the Act”) provides that a landlord redress scheme is a scheme which, firstly, provides for a complaint made by or on behalf of a prospective, current or former residential tenant against a private rented sector landlord, who is a member of the scheme to be independently investigated and determined by an independent individual and, secondly, is either approved or designated by the Secretary of State.

These Regulations make provision about applications for approval of a landlord redress scheme, approval or designation of a scheme, amendment of a scheme and withdrawal or revocation of approval or designation of a scheme.

Regulation 3(1) provides that a scheme may be approved under section 64(2)(b)(i) of the Act only if the scheme satisfies the conditions set out in the Schedule. Regulation 3(2) provides that a scheme may be designated under section 64(2)(b)(ii) of the Act only if the scheme satisfies the conditions set out in Part 1 of the Schedule. The Schedule sets out conditions requiring certain provision to be included in the scheme.

A full impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no, or no significant, impact on the private, voluntary or public sector is foreseen.