diff --git a/app/models/validations/setup_validations.rb b/app/models/validations/setup_validations.rb
index ff17706bb..a192ad0dd 100644
--- a/app/models/validations/setup_validations.rb
+++ b/app/models/validations/setup_validations.rb
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ module Validations::SetupValidations
   def validate_startdate_setup(record)
     return unless record.startdate && date_valid?("startdate", record)
 
-    unless record.startdate.between?(active_collection_start_date, current_collection_end_date)
+    if FeatureToggle.startdate_validation_enabled? && !record.startdate.between?(active_collection_start_date, current_collection_end_date)
       record.errors.add :startdate, validation_error_message
     end
   end
diff --git a/config/initializers/feature_toggle.rb b/config/initializers/feature_toggle.rb
index a7651919f..0092188f4 100644
--- a/config/initializers/feature_toggle.rb
+++ b/config/initializers/feature_toggle.rb
@@ -8,6 +8,10 @@ class FeatureToggle
     Rails.env.production? || Rails.env.test? || Rails.env.staging?
   end
 
+  def self.startdate_validation_enabled?
+    !Rails.env.test?
+  end
+
   def self.startdate_two_week_validation_enabled?
     Rails.env.production? || Rails.env.test? || Rails.env.staging?
   end
diff --git a/spec/models/validations/setup_validations_spec.rb b/spec/models/validations/setup_validations_spec.rb
index 55aa94a04..ce8ac1dc3 100644
--- a/spec/models/validations/setup_validations_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/models/validations/setup_validations_spec.rb
@@ -6,6 +6,10 @@ RSpec.describe Validations::SetupValidations do
   let(:setup_validator_class) { Class.new { include Validations::SetupValidations } }
   let(:record) { FactoryBot.create(:lettings_log) }
 
+  before do
+    allow(FeatureToggle).to receive(:startdate_validation_enabled?).and_return(true)
+  end
+
   describe "tenancy start date" do
     context "when in 22/23 collection" do
       context "when in the crossover period" do
@@ -94,7 +98,7 @@ RSpec.describe Validations::SetupValidations do
       record.irproduct_other = nil
       setup_validator.validate_irproduct_other(record)
       expect(record.errors["irproduct_other"])
-      .to include(match I18n.t("validations.setup.intermediate_rent_product_name.blank"))
+        .to include(match I18n.t("validations.setup.intermediate_rent_product_name.blank"))
     end
 
     it "adds an error when the intermediate rent product name is blank but the rent type was given as other intermediate rent product" do
@@ -102,7 +106,7 @@ RSpec.describe Validations::SetupValidations do
       record.irproduct_other = ""
       setup_validator.validate_irproduct_other(record)
       expect(record.errors["irproduct_other"])
-      .to include(match I18n.t("validations.setup.intermediate_rent_product_name.blank"))
+        .to include(match I18n.t("validations.setup.intermediate_rent_product_name.blank"))
     end
 
     it "Does not add an error when the intermediate rent product name is provided and the rent type was given as other intermediate rent product" do
@@ -128,7 +132,7 @@ RSpec.describe Validations::SetupValidations do
         record.location = location
         setup_validator.validate_scheme(record)
         expect(record.errors["scheme_id"])
-        .to include(match I18n.t("validations.setup.startdate.location.deactivated", postcode: location.postcode, date: "4 June 2022"))
+          .to include(match I18n.t("validations.setup.startdate.location.deactivated", postcode: location.postcode, date: "4 June 2022"))
       end
 
       it "produces no error when tenancy start date is during an active location period" do
@@ -153,7 +157,7 @@ RSpec.describe Validations::SetupValidations do
         record.location = location
         setup_validator.validate_scheme(record)
         expect(record.errors["scheme_id"])
-        .to include(match I18n.t("validations.setup.startdate.location.reactivating_soon", postcode: location.postcode, date: "4 August 2022"))
+          .to include(match I18n.t("validations.setup.startdate.location.reactivating_soon", postcode: location.postcode, date: "4 August 2022"))
       end
 
       it "produces no error when tenancy start date is during an active location period" do
@@ -180,7 +184,7 @@ RSpec.describe Validations::SetupValidations do
         record.location = location
         setup_validator.validate_scheme(record)
         expect(record.errors["scheme_id"])
-        .to include(match I18n.t("validations.setup.startdate.location.activating_soon", postcode: location.postcode, date: "15 September 2022"))
+          .to include(match I18n.t("validations.setup.startdate.location.activating_soon", postcode: location.postcode, date: "15 September 2022"))
       end
     end
 
@@ -197,7 +201,7 @@ RSpec.describe Validations::SetupValidations do
         record.scheme = scheme
         setup_validator.validate_scheme(record)
         expect(record.errors["scheme_id"])
-        .to include(match I18n.t("validations.setup.startdate.scheme.reactivating_soon", name: scheme.service_name, date: "4 August 2022"))
+          .to include(match I18n.t("validations.setup.startdate.scheme.reactivating_soon", name: scheme.service_name, date: "4 August 2022"))
       end
 
       it "produces no error when tenancy start date is during an active scheme period" do
@@ -223,7 +227,7 @@ RSpec.describe Validations::SetupValidations do
         record.scheme = scheme
         setup_validator.validate_scheme(record)
         expect(record.errors["scheme_id"])
-        .to include(match I18n.t("validations.setup.startdate.scheme.reactivating_soon", name: scheme.service_name, date: "4 September 2022"))
+          .to include(match I18n.t("validations.setup.startdate.scheme.reactivating_soon", name: scheme.service_name, date: "4 September 2022"))
       end
 
       it "produces no error when tenancy start date is during an active scheme period" do
@@ -250,7 +254,7 @@ RSpec.describe Validations::SetupValidations do
         record.location = location
         setup_validator.validate_location(record)
         expect(record.errors["location_id"])
-        .to include(match I18n.t("validations.setup.startdate.location.deactivated", postcode: location.postcode, date: "4 June 2022"))
+          .to include(match I18n.t("validations.setup.startdate.location.deactivated", postcode: location.postcode, date: "4 June 2022"))
       end
 
       it "produces no error when tenancy start date is during an active location period" do
@@ -275,7 +279,7 @@ RSpec.describe Validations::SetupValidations do
         record.location = location
         setup_validator.validate_location(record)
         expect(record.errors["location_id"])
-        .to include(match I18n.t("validations.setup.startdate.location.reactivating_soon", postcode: location.postcode, date: "4 August 2022"))
+          .to include(match I18n.t("validations.setup.startdate.location.reactivating_soon", postcode: location.postcode, date: "4 August 2022"))
       end
 
       it "produces no error when tenancy start date is during an active location period" do
@@ -302,7 +306,7 @@ RSpec.describe Validations::SetupValidations do
         record.location = location
         setup_validator.validate_location(record)
         expect(record.errors["location_id"])
-        .to include(match I18n.t("validations.setup.startdate.location.activating_soon", postcode: location.postcode, date: "15 September 2022"))
+          .to include(match I18n.t("validations.setup.startdate.location.activating_soon", postcode: location.postcode, date: "15 September 2022"))
       end
     end
   end