Renters Rights Act 2025

The Renters' Rights Act (2025) is new UK law for England, bringing significant changes to private renting by:

• ending "no-fault" evictions
• scrapping fixed-term contracts for rolling tenancies
• introducing a Decent Homes Standard
• banning rent bidding wars
• enabling tenants to request pets

Providing greater security and fairness, with major parts coming into force in May 2026.

Key changes introduced

• Abolition of Section 21 evictions: landlords must now have a valid specific reason (a "possession ground") to evict tenants ending the ability to evict without cause.
• Rolling tenancies: fixed-term contracts are replaced by periodic (rolling) tenancies, allowing tenants to end them with two months' notice and landlords to use specific grounds for ending them.
• Rent increase controls: rent hikes are limited to once a year and must be justified at market rate, with tenants able to challenge unfair increases.
• Decent Homes Standard and Awaab's Law: landlords must meet higher property standards and address issues like damp and mould promptly.
• Pet ownership: tenants gain the right to request pets, with landlords unable to unreasonably refuse.
• Anti-discrimination: it's illegal for landlords to discriminate against prospective tenants receiving benefits or with children.
• End to bidding wars: landlords can no longer invite or accept offers above the advertised rent.
• New Ombudsman and database: a new Private Rented Sector (PRS) Ombudsman will resolve disputes, and landlords must register on a national database.

For more guidance, please read the Renters’ Rights Bill: A Landlord’s Guide to Compliance.

When does it apply?

The act received Royal Assent in October 2025. Key changes like the end of no-fault evictions and the move to rolling tenancies, start on 1 May 2026. For more information, visit the Guide to the Renters’ Rights Act.