If you’ve ever been evicted for no reason or got sick of having your rent put up, you’ll be glad the Renters’ Rights Act has finally become law.
It’s the biggest shake up of UK tenancy laws for decades. And it’s stirred up a lot of debate.
But what, exactly, are the changes? And what might they mean for you? Here’s a quick rundown.
‘No fault’ evictions chucked out
This is the big one. The Renters’ Rights Act says landlords can no longer use a ‘Section 21’ notice to evict you without giving a valid reason.
So, you shouldn’t be thrown out unfairly. For example, if you’ve complained about something and your landlord decides you’re too much trouble.
To help landlords, the government has introduced clear and broader rules so they can reclaim their properties when they really need to. For example, if they want to sell the home, do significant redevelopment work, or the landlord (or their family member) wants to move in.
But you’ll be given more time — up to 4 months rather than 2 — to find a new roof over your head when this happens. So you’ll get a little more breathing room.
No more fixed-term tenancies. Period.
From now on, all new tenancies will be ‘periodic’. This is another word for a ‘rolling’ contract where tenancies roll on without a fixed term.
Want to move out? You just need to give 2 months’ notice. But it’s not so simple for landlords that want to end a tenancy.
As mentioned above, they now need to give you 4 months’ notice if they’re selling up or want to move in.
What’s more, your landlord won’t be able to ask you to leave in the first year of the tenancy – as long as you’ve done nothing wrong.
The flipside, though, is you could get as little as 2-4 weeks’ notice if you’ve been asked to leave for other reasons, like anti-social behaviour, nor paying your rent, or breaking your tenancy agreement. But the landlord will need to take you to court to push this through.
New minimum standards for rental homes
Heard of the Decent Homes Standard? It sets minimum standards for social housing to make sure it’s in ‘a reasonable state of repair’, has ‘reasonable facilities’, and gives ‘a reasonable degree of comfort’. In other words, it’s all very, well, reasonable.
The thing is, the Decent Homes Standard doesn’t apply to privately rented homes. And that’s something the Renters’ Rights Act will eventually change. So your home should be safer and more secure in the years to come.
The government has also created something called Awaab’s law – a rule named after Awaab Ishak, a 2-year-old who died from inhaling mould spores in his socially rented home in 2020. The new law, which means landlords need to deal with hazards like damp asap, is already in force for social homes. Private landlords will need to stick to the new rule as well in the future.
Tenants’ rights strengthened
If you’re tired of your rent going up time and again, this one’s for you. The Renters’ Rights Act means landlords can only put your rent up once a year. And they can’t do it in the first 12 months of your tenancy.
What’s more, tenants now have more power to challenge rent rises through tribunals. This is especially helpful if you think your landlord is using rent hikes to force you out.
The new laws also stop landlords and agents from accepting offers above the advertised rent. This cracks down on bidding wars - competitions that push rents upwards and leave many tenants down in the dumps.
A new digital database
Applying to rent a property can feel a bit unfair sometimes. You have to give landlords a reference, but they don’t need to give you one in return.
This is where the Renters’ Rights Act will help too. The government is creating a digital database where you can find information on landlords. So, you’ll know if the person you’re renting from has had a banning order, fine or other penalty.
There’ll be no escaping the database once it’s set up, either. Landlords won’t even be allowed to advertise a rental home unless they’re registered.
But these changes will also have benefits for landlords too. It will explain their responsibilities and show their home complies with all the rules.
A ban on bans
The new laws will also stop landlords from enforcing blanket bans on families and tenants on benefits. This is because the government wants to make sure nobody is denied a home when they need it.
The Renters’ Rights Act takes the lead on pets as well. Every tenant will have the right to ask for a pet. And your landlord won’t be able to unreasonably refuse.
What ultimately counts as ‘unreasonable’ could be up to the new ombudsman (more about them later). But if your Great Dane decides to eat the carpet, don’t be surprised if you’re asked to foot the bill.
Disputes settled faster
You know what’s not in dispute? The fact that tenant versus landlord disagreements can be tricky.
That’s why the government also plans to create a new ombudsman to settle disputes quickly and cheaply. All landlords will need to join the scheme once it’s set up.
An Ombudsman is someone who investigates and settles complaints. So, if you’re frustrated with your landlord about something, it should be easier to get a fair solution without going to court.
The Renters’ Rights Act will also make it easier for local councils to spot bad landlords. It will give them new powers to investigate rogues, fine them, and ban them.
So, when will the Renters’ Rights Act start to make a difference?
The great news for tenants is that most of the changes came into force on 1 May 2026. No fault evictions, fixed-term tenancies, plus blanket bans on families with children and tenants on benefits have already been kicked to the curb. You now have stronger rights to request pets, too.
What’s more, the government has already bid goodbye to bidding wars, and you can go to a tribunal to challenge an unfair rent rise under the new rules as well.
Having said that, some changes will take extra time to bring in. For example, the government is still setting up the new digital landlords database and ombudsman scheme. They’ll be introduced in phases over the next couple of years.
It will also be a while before the Decent Homes Standard applies to privately rented homes. After all, it could cost landlords a big chunk of money to bring their properties up to scratch.
The big news, though, is that the most eye-catching reforms are already in place. So the Renters’ Rights Act should make you feel more at home straight away.
This content was accurate when updated on 1 May 2026.
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