Renters' Rights Act: What it means for tenants and landlords

Renters' Rights Act: What it means for tenants and landlordsJust nowShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleTarah Welshhousing reporterPeter Cade/Getty ImagesDescribed as the biggest shake-up to renting in England for more than 30 years, new laws giving tenants more rights will be introduced on Friday 1 May.The Renters' Rights Act aims to give more than 11 million people who rent from a private landlord more stability and security.The new rules also mean big changes for landlords, with some warning that there could be delays evicting bad tenants from their properties.How long will tenants be able to rent a home for?Fixed term tenancies, where renters are tied into a 12 or 24-month contract, are banned under the new rules. Instead, properties will be rented on a "periodic" or rolling basis.This means that tenants who wish to remain in a property can do so. The government says the change will provide renters with greater security.Tenants who want to leave can give two months' notice. The government says this will end "the injustice of tenants being trapped paying rent for substandard properties".Existing tenants do not need to sign a new contract as the change happens automatically.If you are a renter, your landlord or agent is required to provide you with an information sheet about the changes.The Renters' Rights Act applies to England. Scotland has had periodic agreements for tenancies since 2017, but Wales and Northern Ireland still allow fixed-term contracts.Will a landlord be able to evict people for no reason?More than 11,000 households in England had their homes repossessed by bailiffs following a Section 21 "no-fault" eviction in the year to June 2025.Under the new law, the grounds for evicting tenants are significantly tightened up. Any eviction notices issued before the end of April 2026 still apply.But from 1 May, a landlord deciding to evict a tenant must have a valid legal reason to do so.This includes wanting to sell or move into a property themselves. (But not within the first 12 months of a tenancy).Tenants can also be evicted if they damage the property, or commit antisocial behaviour.If they fall significantly behind paying the rent - known as rent arrears - the landlord can give notice at any point.Under the new rules, if a tenant does not leave after the four months' notice period, a court will decide whether to order possession of the property.Landlords will also no longer be able to evict tenants for complaining about poor conditions.In a later phase of changes to England's renting rules, expected by 2027, "Awaab's Law" will take effect.Named after two-year-old Awaab Ishak, who died in 2020 after being exposed to mould in his Rochdale home, this will require hazards to be repaired within a certain timeframe.However, a mandatory "Decent Homes Standard", to bring conditions in line with the social sector, won't be enforced until 2035.More than 11,000 no-fault bailiff evictions in past yearWhy so many UK homes are still dangerously mouldy - years after this toddler diedWhen can a landlord increase the rent?Landlords will need to give two months' notice and can only increase rent once a year to "the market rate".If a tenant believes the amount is excessive, they can challenge the landlord at a type of civil court called a first-tier tribunal.The new law will also end the practice of "bidding wars", so new tenants cannot be asked to pay more than the advertised price.Average UK monthly private rents increased by 3.5%, to…

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