This article gives a summary of the changes brought about by the Renters Rights Act 2025. We consider both the changes for tenants, and guidance for landlords. It is intended to be a brief “aide memoire” of the key changes and any of us can provide more advice and information if required.
Changes for tenants
From 1 May 2026, changes brought in by the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 provide more rights and better protection to tenants in the private rented sector.
Changes introduced by the Act include:
- The abolition of assured shorthold tenancies. All tenancies are now periodic, rolling on from month to month or week to week, and tenants are able to end a tenancy by giving two months’ notice;
- Landlords are unable to evict tenants without a valid reason;
- Landlords are unable to ask for or accept a rent higher than the advertised rent, preventing ‘bidding wars’ between prospective tenants;
- Landlords are only able to increase the rent once per year, and tenants will be able to challenge rent increases at the First-tier Tribunal;
- Landlords are unable to ask for more than one month’s rent in advance;
- It is now illegal for landlords to refuse prospective tenants because they are in receipt of benefits or because they have children;
- Tenants now have the right to request permission to keep a pet. The landlord cannot unreasonably refuse permission.
Guidance for landlords
The government’s website provides guidance for landlords on changes contained in the Renters’ Rights Act 2025.
Key changes which took effect on 1 May 2026 include:
- The abolition of assured shorthold tenancies (ASTs). All existing ASTs are now assured periodic tenancies and new tenancy agreements will be assured periodic tenancies;
- The abolition of ‘no fault’ evictions. Landlords are no longer be able to use Section 21 of the Housing Act 1988 to evict tenants and now need a legal reason to evict them;
- Landlords are unable to ask for more than one month’s rent in advance;
- Landlords must include a specific price on any written property advertisement. They are unable to ask prospective tenants to bid above this amount, or accept any such bids;
- Landlords need to follow the new legal process for increasing the rent and give at least two months’ notice. The rent can only be increased once per year;
- It is now illegal for landlords to discriminate against prospective tenants because they are in receipt of benefits or because they have children;
- Landlords must consider and respond to a tenant’s request to rent with a pet within a set timeframe, and will have to provide valid reasons if the request is refused.
The government has also published a guide to the Renters’ Rights Act and all landlords are advised to review the guide and consider its contents and the steps they need to take to ensure compliance with the Renters Rights Act.
