Following on from our earlier article The Renters’ Rights Bill: What It Means for Landlords and Tenants, we now have confirmation of how and when the changes will come into effect. The Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government has issued a roadmap that breaks the reforms into three main phases, beginning 1 May 2026.
Below, we’ve summarised the key stages, what they mean in practice, and how landlords and tenants can begin preparing.
From 1 May 2026, the following measures will be introduced across all private tenancies:
All tenancies become periodic – fixed-term tenancies will be phased out.
Section 21 “no fault” evictions abolished – landlords must use legitimate grounds under revised Section 8.
Rent increase caps and new notice rules – annual rent increases only, using Section 13.
Ban on bidding wars – tenants can’t be encouraged to outbid each other on rent.
Anti-discrimination protections – particularly around benefits claimants.
Right to request a pet – landlords must provide a valid reason to refuse.
👉 Need help understanding periodic tenancies or the new rent increase process? Visit our Knowledge Base.
Later in 2026, we’ll see:
The introduction of mandatory membership in a landlord ombudsman scheme.
The launch of the national Private Rented Sector (PRS) Database, helping improve transparency and enforcement.
Landlords will be legally required to register their properties. Details on compliance and registration deadlines are expected soon.
The final phase covers the roll-out of:
The Decent Homes Standard in the private rented sector.
Awaab’s Law, which will impose stricter timeframes for resolving serious hazards such as damp and mould.
⚠️ Implementation is subject to future consultation, expected in either 2035 or 2037, but it’s worth preparing now.
We’ll be updating our Knowledge Base regularly as further guidance is released.
The Renters’ Rights Act 2025 is the most significant piece of rental reform in a generation. Now that we have confirmed dates, we can begin planning with confidence.
Keep an eye on our blog and newsletter. We’ll continue breaking down each phase of the rollout to help both landlords and tenants stay compliant, informed, and ahead of the curve.
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