Navigating the 2026 Compliance Landscape: What PBSA Operators Need to Know

By Shaida Faraj, Sales Director, Plentific

It has been a busy start to 2026, and across the PBSA sector, compliance is firmly back at the top of the agenda. In my conversations with operators, it is clear that regulatory pressure is continuing to intensify and that balancing safety, resident rights, and commercial realities is becoming more complex by the month.

At Plentific, we work closely with housing providers across social housing, PRS, and PBSA. With over 12 years of experience in the social housing sector, much of the legislation now impacting PBSA is very familiar to us. Our partners in social housing have been operating under similar frameworks for years, and I have seen first-hand both the challenges and the practical solutions that help organisations stay compliant without losing operational control.

The 2026 Compliance Reality

Several regulatory developments are currently dominating boardroom and operational discussions.

Building Safety Act: Gateways 2 and 3

We are now firmly in the era of the Gateway regime. For PBSA operators, Gateway 3 represents a critical point. Delays in approval do not just affect project timelines. They can leave buildings unoccupied for extended periods, with significant financial and operational consequences.

Renters’ Rights Reform from May 2026

The planned abolition of fixed-term tenancies from 1 May 2026 is driving urgent preparation across the sector. Many providers are reviewing their alignment with the ANUK/Unipol National Code, particularly where predictable income models and tenancy structures are concerned.

Awaab’s Law and Time-Critical Repairs

Clear legal timeframes for investigating and resolving hazards- including 24 hours for emergencies-are becoming the baseline expectation across the rented sector. What was once seen primarily as a social housing requirement is soon to come to the private rented/PBSA space, placing greater emphasis on repairs coordination, contractor responsiveness, and accurate reporting.

Explore Plentific's Awaab's Law Hub

From Regulation to Operational Delivery

Understanding legislation is one thing; delivering against it consistently is another. When I speak to PBSA operators, similar operational questions come up time and again:

• How can compliance be evidenced quickly, including access to a clear digital audit trail at short notice?

• How can urgent safety issues be identified, prioritised, and resolved within mandated timeframes?

• How can organisations remain compliant while still protecting Net Operating Income and service quality?

These challenges require more than policy changes. They require joined-up processes, real-time visibility, and systems that support teams rather than slow them down.

Learning from Social Housing Experience

In social housing, many of these pressures have existed for years. At Plentific, we have supported organisations through regulatory change, operational “hard stops,” and increasing scrutiny. I have seen where manual processes fail, where data gaps create risk, and where digital approaches genuinely make a difference.

Those lessons are now highly relevant for PBSA operators who are navigating similar requirements, often at pace and across large portfolios.

Continuing the Conversation

As regulation continues to reshape the sector, clarity and preparedness are essential. At Plentific, we focus on helping housing providers reduce risk, improve visibility, and manage compliance with confidence.

If you would like to discuss how these regulatory changes may impact your portfolio, or to explore practical approaches to managing compliance, please get in touch with me for more information.