Author: nigelgomm

  • RRA Information Sheets

    A reminder that you have until 31st May to send these information sheets and Rentman will keep track of those you’ve already sent using Rentman.

    So you don’t need to send all at once at 9am on Friday.

    It would be safer to stagger sending as much as you can to prevent emails being flagged as spam and IP addresses and email servers becoming blacklisted.

    ** Update : A reminder that if you use the new RRA Information Sheet required list and the ‘Send’ button to serve these notices by email or Rmail (see https://rentman.blog/2026/03/26/prescribed-information/) , Rentman will record both the email being sent and its receipt in the journal .

  • Section 8 – Form 3A

    Version 5.003.380 has the new Form3A for repossession and a few minor tweaks to the screens to make it easier use.

    This is best sent using Docusign or RSign from within Rentman as it requires a signature and proof of it being sent.

    It is issued by, and in your name, the agent. If anyone requires that this notice be issued in the landlord’s name (with signing by the landlord etc) please let us know. There’s no reason in law why you would want that but…..

    As always, Rentman generates and sends the finished document using information you’ve already entered.

    This version also includes new documents and wording for prior notice of grounds 5 and 4A.

    We’ll get a training video released later this week.

    (The new Section 13 – Form 4A for rent increases will be available tomorrow.)

  • Vacant Possession

    The new APT from TfP has a heading

    This tenancy agreement is subject to any existing tenant and/or, any other occupiers, vacating the Property and the Property still being available to let, for example, including but not limited to, being damaged by fire or flood. For the avoidance of doubt in any of these circumstances this tenancy agreement will not take effect.

    Which means my earlier concern about not having the landlord ‘enter into’ the agreement before getting vacant possession is bypassed.

    You can have everyone sign as soon as is convenient, receive the rent and then if previous tenants don’t move out… the new agreement does not take effect.

  • A reminder if you use MS Outlook

    The new webified version of Outlook does not work with Rentman; don’t let your IT people update you before talking to our support line about alternative configurations.

  • Complete documents

    TfP have now released their complete document pack and we shall be incorporating them within Rentman and releasing over the next few days.

  • APT Agreement

    The agreement has undergone a few tweaks in the last week so please download a new copy.

    And best to keep doing so as i suspect there will be more tweaks before 1st May.

  • Literal interpretations continued…

    Close reading of the regulations shows that both the Landlord AND the Agent must send the Information Sheet for managed properties. The agent can send on behalf of the landlord. The easiest way to do that (and cheapest if using RMail/RSign/Docusign) is to send one email with 2 identical attachments.
    I’m not making this up and the following wording has been approved by TfP.

    Dear Fred Bloggs

    Please find attached the Government’s Information Sheet informing you of changes to your tenancy at 13a Gasworks Row, Cheam, Surrey.

    There are two identical attachments; one from your landlord and one from us, the landlord’s agent  – as the law requires.

    Please feel free to contact us if there is anything in it you don’t understand.

    Yours

    DotGomm Ltd

    So this has become the default wording in the RRA cover letter. Rentman will also add the attachment twice – but you have the ability to modify the “package” and remove the second copy if your landlords are sending their own..

  • Literal Interpretations….

    There are a couple of things in the recent regulations and guidance that, if taken literally, will cause problems; till we get a court ruling we have little choice but to take them literally.

    • Rent must not be received until the agreement has been “entered into”; that is defined as all parties having signed the agreement. But you mustn’t let the landlord sign the agreement until you are certain you have vacant possession (if previous tenants don’t move out and landlord has signed the landlord is obliged to find new tenants alternative accommodation). This will often mean you mustn’t accept rent until the day the tenants move in. Perhaps allow a few day’s gap between old tenants moving out and new tenancy beginning so as to be sure of vacant possession.
      (Edit : See post on 24th April)
    • The Information Sheet must be served to the tenant as either paper copy or a PDF attachment; you cannot send as a link. Docusign and RSign only send a link for signature so you have not “served” until the signed & finished document from Docusign/RSign is delivered as a PDF attachment. If the tenants don’t sign the document hasn’t been served.
      This is in contrast to other mechanisms where you are only concerned with “serving” and need not worry about “receipt” let alone them having actually “read” it.
      RMail becomes the simpler option (see previous post).
  • New Agreement (cont.)

    The new agreement has been incorporated into Rentman and is available through the document update feature of the Help menu.

    (please note we are still testing; this is for preview only.)

    We’re still waiting for the final versions of the Sections 8 and 13 notices.

    Version 5.003.369 of Rentman will use the APT as default and adds new lists in the main treeview to show tenancies ending and Rent Reviews due.

    I’ll be showing all this in Thursday’s webinar here https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89242950393

  • New agreement

    I’ve just taken delivery of the new Assured Periodic Tenancy Agreement and will be distributing it to customers early next week.

    Other documents will follow ASAP but must not be used until 1st May.