The Renters’ Rights Act 2025 is the biggest change to private renting in England since the Housing Act 1988. It received Royal Assent on 27 October 2025 and will be introduced in phases starting 1 May 2026.
Its main purpose is to strengthen tenant rights, provide more security, and improve the quality and fairness of privately rented homes.
What Changes Will Tenants See?
No More Fixed-Term Tenancies
From 1 May 2026, all new and existing eligible tenancies will move to assured periodic (rolling) tenancies, meaning:
- You won’t have a fixed end date.
- You can end your tenancy with two months’ notice.
- Your landlord must use one of the approved legal grounds to end a tenancy.
Stronger Protection From Eviction
Section 21 evictions will be abolished, so landlords will only be able to end tenancies using specific Section 8 grounds.
Clearer Rules on Rent Increases
Rent can only be increased once per year, and a formal process must be followed.
Additional Tenant Rights
The Act introduces:
- A right to request permission to keep a pet, and landlords cannot unreasonably refuse.
- A ban on asking for more than one month’s rent in advance.
- A ban on discrimination (e.g., against families with children or tenants receiving benefits).
Better Quality and Transparency
A new PRS property database and a PRS Landlord Ombudsman will be introduced in later phases (from late 2026), improving transparency and giving tenants easier access to information and dispute resolution.
What This Means for Our Existing Tenants
If you’re already renting with us:
- Your tenancy will automatically transition to a periodic tenancy in line with the government timetable — you do not need to take any action.
- You will receive a government Information Sheet by the required deadline (no later than 31 May 2026 for existing tenancies).
- We will write to all tenants ahead of the changes to explain how the new rules apply to your tenancy.
- We will continue to communicate updates through:
- Email and letter notifications
- Website updates and FAQs
Our aim is to ensure every tenant understands their rights and what the reforms mean for them well before 1 May 2026.
What This Means for New Tenants
If you’re considering renting with us:
- From 1 May 2026, all new tenancies will be on a rolling periodic basis — no fixed-term contracts.
- You will receive a new Written Statement of Terms setting out clear information about:
- Rent
- Notice rights
- Your protections
- Safety obligations
- Pet requests
- How we must handle repairs and communication
- We will ensure our advertising, viewing, and sign-up processes fully reflect the new legal requirements.
- Our teams will guide all new tenants through the updated rights and responsibilities before move-in.
In Summary:
The Renters’ Rights Act is designed to give tenants:
- More security
- More fairness
- Clearer protections
- More transparency
- Stronger rights when dealing with landlords
As a responsible PRS housing provider, we welcome these reforms and are preparing to implement all changes smoothly and clearly.
If you would like to find out more information about the Renters Rights Act this can be viewed via the Government website: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guide-to-the-renters-rights-act/guide-to-the-renters-rights-act
If you have questions, please contact our team, we’re here to help every step of the way.
