Skip to main content
Personal Business

What are you looking for?

The Renters' Rights Act 2025: what landlords need to know

1 May 2026

3 min read

From 1 May 2026, the Renters' Rights Act changes how private renting works in England. It brings more security for tenants and places new obligations on landlords.

What is the Renters' Rights Act?

The Renters' Rights Act is updating how private renting works in England. It replaces short fixed-term lets with open-ended, rolling tenancies. It also ends no-fault evictions, and sets clear rules on rent and property standards. The aim is to make renting simpler, fairer and more secure.

Landlords must give existing tenants the official government Renters' Rights Act information sheet by 31 May 2026. Missing the deadline could lead to fines of up to £7,000 for landlords.

Implementation timeline

The government is bringing in these changes in three stages. Phase 1 starts on 1 May 2026, with more changes added over time as the new system rolls out.

Phase 1

From 1 May 2026

This phase introduces various changes including the main tenancy reforms:

  • The move to Assured Periodic Tenancies (APT)
  • The removal of no-fault eviction rights
  • Limits on rent increases and rent in advance
  • Changes to how pets are considered
  • Stronger anti-discrimination protections
  • Expanded local authority enforcement powers.

Phase 2

Expected from late 2026

This phase will include:

  • The introduction of a Private Rented Sector (PRS) Landlord Database
  • The launch of the PRS Landlord Ombudsman service.

Phase 3

Date TBC

This phase will extend the Decent Homes Standard to private rented properties.

Further information

For the most up-to-date and detailed information, please see the following external sources:

  1. Guide to the Renters' Rights Act - GOV.UK - official government information on the legislation and its implementation.
  2. Renter's Rights Act | Guide to the Renters' Rights Bill | NRLA - overview of the Act and its implications for landlords.

This page is intended to provide general background information only and to signpost to external sources for further information.

Not found what you're looking for?

Contact our support team

Visit a branch
Call us