RENTER'S RIGHTS ACT (2025)

The Renters' Rights Act 2025, receiving Royal Assent on October 27, 2025, overhauls England's private rental sector, with key changes starting 1 May 2026. Summarily, it abolishes no-fault evictions (Section 21), moves all tenancies to periodic (rolling) contracts, bans rental bidding wars, and introduces a new landlord ombudsman.

You can find more information about the renter’s rights act here

An official document published by gov.uk is available here

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

1. TENANTS

You will no longer have a fixed term tenancy, with your agreement now simply running from month to month
To end your tenancy, you must give 2 months written notice
Landlords will only be able to end your tenancy under specific ‘possession grounds’, and only after a minimum ‘protected term’ of 12 months has passed since the start of your agreement
There are greater protections for tenants to apply for housing i.e. non-discrimination against those on benefits, or from families—however there are now stricter right to rent affordability checks that you may be subject to as part of your application (providing false information in order to pass a check can result in your tenancy being rendered void)
The landlord (or agent) will only be permitted to offer the advertised asking rent, and will not allow ‘rental bidding’ to occur (however you may still be able to negotiate below this amount)—note Britannia has never allowed nor practiced rental bidding on behalf of its landlords
Landlords will only be able to request one month’s rent in advance (if you wish to pay more than that, then you will have to request this in writing)
Rent increases will be capped to only once per calendar year, with a legal process and notice that must be followed / served two months before the increase is to take effect (this must be in line with market rents)
Other changes are coming, as part of later phases—you can be sure that these updates will be included on this page over time

You can find more information about how the renter’s rights act affects you here: https://housinghub.campaign.gov.uk/renting-is-changing-private-tenants/

2. LANDLORDS

Section 21 notices to terminate a tenancy will be banned, with only certain ‘possession grounds’ permitted to be used, and only once a minimum ‘protected period’ of 12 months has passed since the start of the tenancy
There will however be stronger protections for landlords to evict tenants who behave anti socially (this includes failure to pay rents)
There are greater protections for tenants to apply for housing i.e. non-discrimination against those on benefits, or from families—however there are now stricter right to rent affordability checks that they can be subject to as part of their application (providing false information in order to pass a check can result in the tenancy being rendered void, at no discourse to the landlord)
Only the advertised asking rent will be permitted to be offered, avoiding rental bidding from occurring (however tenants may still try to negotiate below this amount)—note Britannia has never allowed nor practiced rental bidding on behalf of its landlords
You will only be allowed to request one month’s rent in advance—however a tenant may still request to pay more in advance
Rent increases will be capped to only once per calendar year, with a legal process and notice that must be followed / served two months before the increase is to take effect (this must be in line with market rents)
Other changes are coming, as part of later phases—you can be sure that these updates will be included on this page over time

You can find more information about how the renter’s rights act affects you here: https://housinghub.campaign.gov.uk/renting-is-changing/