The Renters' Rights Act

The Renters’ Rights Act became law on 27 October 2025. The measures of the act will be introduced in 3 stages, with the first phase of changes taking effect on 1 May 2026. It provides new safeguards for private tenants, strengthening your housing rights.

What are the key changes under the Renters’ Rights Act?

Existing private tenants and new tenants starting a private tenancy on or after 1 May 2026 will be affected by the Renters’ Rights Act changes.

• Assured shorthold tenancies will end and assured tenancies will become the main type of tenancy in the private rented sector. These will give tenants greater security in their homes and stronger rights.
• Section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions will be abolished. Landlords will need a legal reason (ground) to evict you.
• Fixed term tenancies will be abolished. You will have a periodic (rolling) tenancy instead, making it easier to leave the tenancy if you need to, by giving 2 months’ notice to your landlord.
• Landlords can only seek an increase in rent once a year, using a specific procedure. This can be challenged via the First-tier Tribunal (Property).
• Landlords can only ask for 1 month’s rent in advance when you start the tenancy. ‘Bidding wars’ will be banned.
• Landlords will be banned from discriminating against prospective tenants that have children or are claiming benefits.
• Tenants will also have the right to request to rent with a pet, which a landlord cannot unreasonably refuse.

When will the key changes be implemented?

The main changes under the Act, strengthening the rights of private tenants, will be introduced under the first phase of implementation, which takes effect on 1 May 2026.

Other changes under the Renters’ Rights Act

Further changes will be implemented from late 2026 onwards.These include:

• establishing a Private Rented Sector Landlord Ombudsman, to help resolve disputes between landlords and tenants.
• commencing a regional rollout of a database for landlords and councils. Meaning private landlords must register themselves and key information about their properties on this online system.

More changes seeking to raise standards of housing quality in the private rented sector will be brought in later. These include extending the Decent Homes Standard and Awaab’s Law to the sector, raising the minimum energy efficiency requirement for privately rented homes, and improving the approach taken to assessing hazards. The timeframes for the implementation for these changes will be subject to consultation.