The Renters' Rights Act: What it means for you

Landlords are no longer able to evict you without a reason. Section 21 evictions (also known as 'no fault' evictions) have been abolished and renters have stronger protection against unfair evictions and rent increases.

You can only be asked to leave if your landlord has a valid legal reason, such as:

• They're selling the property
• Your landlord themselves or a close family member need to move in
• You've fallen into serious rent arrears or caused anti-social behaviour

* These changes do not apply if you have received a Section 21 'no fault' eviction notice before 1 May 2026. For more information please see Guide to the Renters' Rights Act .

No more contacts with a specific timeframe are allowed. All tenancies will be periodic, giving you more flexibility and freedom to move when it suits you.

Fixed-term contracts are being replaced with rolling (periodic) tenancies. As a renter you:

• Can stay in your home as long as you like
• Only need to give 2 months' notice when you want to leave
• Won't be locked into a contract if the property is unsafe or your circumstances change

This gives you more flexibility and freedom to move when it suits you.

A new national database will be created in the future to make it easier to check if your landlord is registered and following the rules within the Act.

The national landlord database will:

• Help you know your landlord is legitimate
• Make it easier to report issues
• Ensure landlords are held accountable for poor conditions or illegal evictions

For the first time, private rented homes must meet the same basic standards as social housing. Awaab's Law will also apply to private rentals, meaning landlords must fix serious issues like damp and mould within strict time limits.

The date for implementation of this is still to be confirmed but is expected later in 2026. The Decent Homes standard changes are likely to be implemented from 2035.

Fairer rent increases are being introduced. Some landlords have used excessive rent increases to force tenants out without formally evicting them. Limiting rent increases to once per year and requiring them to reflect market rates, ensures renters can't be priced out unfairly.

What this means for renters:

• Know your rights - stay informed as things are introduced
• Keep records - save copies of your tenancy agreement, rent payments, and any communication with your landlord
• Report issues - don't wait to raise concerns about safety or repairs
• Check your landlord - once the database is live, make sure they're registered