RENTERS RIGHTS ACT

The Renters’ Rights Act is a piece of upcoming legislation designed to deliver “long overdue” reforms to the Private Rented Sector (PRS). Its primary goal is to give tenants more security to stay in their homes and more freedom to leave substandard properties. 

The Government believes this is necessary because: “While the majority of landlords provide a good service, the [PRS] currently provides the least affordable, poorest quality and most insecure housing of all tenures.”

• Abolish fixed-term assured shorthold tenancies (ASTs) - As a result of this, all tenancies will become periodic. This is now already in place, tenancy agreements are now called APT's and are period from the outset. 
• Limit rent increases - The shift to periodic tenancies means Section 13 notices will be the only way for landlords to raise the rent; these can only be served once per year. 
• Abolish Section 21 evictions - Landlords will no longer be able to serve “no-fault” eviction notices to regain possession of their properties. These are now obsolete, the deadline has passed in which a Section 21 served before May 2026 can be brought to a court. 
• Expand Section 8 possession grounds - The Government is adding and updating both mandatory and discretionary grounds due to the abolition of Section 21. These are now in force. 
• Ban rental bidding wars - Landlords and agents can’t accept offers above the advertised price. 
• Introduce a landlord ombudsman - This will help resolve disputes between landlords and tenants impartially. 
• Create a private rented sector database - Designed to compile information about landlords and properties and provide visibility on compliance. WEST MIDLANDS ROLLOUT BEGINS 15TH DECEMBER 2026.
• Apply the Decent Homes Standard - All rental properties must meet minimum quality standards. 
• Prohibit discrimination - Landlords can’t refuse tenants on benefits or with children.
• Allow renting with pets - Landlords can't unreasonably refuse tenants with pets.

The Renters' Rights Act is now law, having received Royal Assent on October 27, 2025.

Its provisions will be implemented in stages, with the first changes having already taken affect on May 1, 2026. This initial phase included the abolition of Section 21 evictions and the end of fixed-term tenancies, which have been replaced by periodic tenancies for new agreements.   

The rollout for the next stage of changes, being the implementation of the Landlord Database, commences on 15th December 2026 for the West Midlands, with other areas following suit thereafter. 

Don't Panic! You will have questions, and hopefully we have the answers and will be able to make things clearer for you. 

Contact us for a tailored plan to future proof your properties and tenancies.

We are ready to assist you and have undergone training to make sure we fully understand the new laws.