Renters’ Rights Act
What You Need to Know

The reforms introduce new rights and responsibilities across the rental sector, affecting:

• Tenancy agreements

• Rent increases

• Evictions

• Property standards

The goal is to ensure tenants have safe, secure, and decent homes, while landlords have clearer rules to follow.

Yes.

Section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions will be abolished.

This means landlords will only be able to end a tenancy if they have a valid legal reason (a “possession ground”), such as:

• Selling the property

• Moving into the property themselves

• Tenant rent arrears or anti-social behaviour

Fixed-term tenancies will be removed.

Instead, most tenancies will become periodic (rolling) agreements, meaning:

• Tenancies won’t have a fixed end date

• Tenants can stay in the property until they choose to leave or a valid notice is given

Rent increases will be limited to once per year.

Landlords must:

• Follow a formal legal process

• Give at least two months’ notice before the increase takes effect

Yes.

Landlords and agents must:

• Advertise a clear asking price

• Not encourage or accept offers above that price

This is designed to make renting more transparent and fair.

There will be stricter limits.

Landlords:

• Can only request up to one month’s rent in advance before a tenancy begins

• Cannot require rent payments before they are due

Yes.

Tenants will benefit from:

• Greater protection from eviction

• More stable, long-term tenancies

• Clearer rights and processes

The reforms are designed to give renters more security and confidence in their homes.

Yes—but only with a valid reason.

The updated system introduces reformed possession grounds, making the process:

• Fairer for both landlords and tenants

• More clearly defined in law

Yes.

It will become illegal for landlords to:

• Discriminate against tenants with children

• Refuse tenants who receive benefits

This aims to improve access to housing for more people.

Tenants will have the right to request a pet, and landlords:

• Must consider the request

• Cannot unreasonably refuse

Yes.

The government plans to introduce a Decent Homes Standard for private rentals, ensuring properties:

• Meet minimum safety and quality standards

• Are properly maintained

Yes.

A new private rented sector ombudsman will be introduced:

• All landlords will be required to join

• Tenants will be able to raise complaints

• Decisions will be fair, impartial, and binding

Yes.

A new private rented sector database will:

• Provide key information for tenants and landlords

• Help improve transparency

• Support local authority enforcement

The reforms are being introduced in phases, with the main tenancy changes starting from:

1 May 2026

Further measures (such as the ombudsman and database) will follow later.

These changes represent the biggest reform to the rental sector in decades, aiming to:

• Improve standards

• Increase fairness

• Provide long-term stability