Renters Rights Act 2025

The Renters' Rights Act 2025

In 2025 the Government enacted legislation that introduces significant reforms to give tenants greater security and improve housing standards.

Significant changes to how the private rented sector operates come in on the 1st May 2026. These changes include: -

• Abolition of "No-Fault" Evictions: Landlords will no longer be able to use Section 21 notices to evict tenants without a specific, valid reason.
• Assured Periodic Tenancies (APTs): Fixed term assured shorthold tenancies (ASTs) will be abolished and converted into rolling APTs, which continue indefinitely unless terminated using a valid ground for possession.
• Reformed Possession Grounds: Landlords will need to rely on amended Section 8 grounds for possession, which include new mandatory grounds for selling a property or a landlord/family member moving in (subject to conditions). The notice period for most grounds will increase to four months.
• Limited Rent Increases: Rent increases will be restricted to once per year, and landlords must provide at least two months' notice using a statutory process. Tenants will be able to challenge proposed increases at a First-tier Tribunal.
• Ban on Rental Bidding & Rent in Advance: Landlords must advertise a fixed rent and cannot solicit or accept offers above that amount. They also cannot demand more than one month's rent in advance.
• Right to Request a Pet: Landlords must consider tenant requests to keep a pet and cannot unreasonably refuse them, with a written response required within 28 days.
• Anti-Discrimination Measures: It will be illegal to discriminate against prospective tenants who have children or are receiving benefits

Details of these changes can be found for privately rented tenants on the following link to the Government general campaign to raise awareness of these significant changes: -housinghub.campaign.gov.uk/private-renting-is-changing/ 

If you are a landlord the Government has also created a specific web page where access to guidance and check lists can be easily obtained : -housinghub.campaign.gov.uk/renting-is-changing/

There is a general road map for future planned changes associated with the Renters Rights Act 2025 set out below that Central Government will up date in due course. 

• Mandatory Private Rented Sector (PRS) Database: A database will be established for landlord and property registration.  Registration on this database will be mandatory for all rental properties, and non-compliance could lead to the imposition of a fine.
• Mandatory PRS Landlord Ombudsman:  A scheme for dispute resolution will be established, with mandatory membership expected by 2028.