What Landlords and Tenants Need to Know
Background:
The legislation governing residential leases was reformed on 1 October 2026.
The reforms introduce clearer and more detailed rules for everyday situations arising in residential tenancy relationships. The reforms affect, for example:
- rent increases
- smoking in rental properties
- tenants’ notification obligations
- the termination of tenancy agreements.
Rent Increases Must Be Notified in Writing
Going forward, landlords must always notify tenants of any rent increase in writing. The increased rent can take effect no earlier than the beginning of the first rental payment period that starts at least one month after the notice has been given. As a result, rent increases cannot be applied retrospectively.
Tenants Must Provide Information About Occupants
The new legislation introduces a notification obligation for tenants. Tenants must inform the landlord of the number of people living in the property and the basis on which they have the right to reside there. For adult occupants, tenants must also provide their names, dates of birth, and contact details.
This information may be required, for example, when dealing with matters relating to the use of the property or investigating disturbances and nuisance issues.
Smoking Requires the Landlord’s Permission
Under the new rules, smoking inside a residential rental property will only be permitted with the landlord’s consent, unless smoking is already prohibited by other regulations or restrictions, such as the housing company’s articles of association.
This provision will also apply to tenancy agreements that are already in force when the new legislation comes into effect.
Changes to the Landlord’s Notice Period
For new tenancy agreements, the landlord’s notice period will be reduced from six months to four months.
The four-month notice period applies where the tenancy has continued uninterrupted for at least two years immediately before notice is given. In all other cases, the landlord’s notice period will be three months.
The tenant’s notice period remains unchanged at one month.
Transitional provisions apply to existing tenancy agreements, making it important to check when the agreement was entered into if a tenancy is being terminated.
New Ground for Termination with Immediate Effect
The reform introduces a new ground that allows a landlord to terminate a tenancy with immediate effect where there is another exceptionally serious reason.
This does not give landlords a general or unrestricted right to terminate tenancy agreements. The new provision may only be relied upon in cases involving particularly serious circumstances.
According to the legislative materials, such circumstances may include situations where several different grounds for termination exist at the same time. It may also apply where a tenant repeatedly or continuously breaches their obligations and, although no individual act or omission would by itself justify immediate termination, the overall pattern of conduct is sufficiently serious to do so.
###
We advise our clients on all matters related to residential leasing and tenancy matters.
