Tenants

When will the Renters' Rights Act become law?

The Act received royal assent on 27 October 2025, which means it is now law. It doesn’t mean it applies to you straight away though.

The Renters' Rights Act will be implemented in stages with the first parts applying from 1 May 2026.

From that date:

• Fixed-term Assured Shorthold Tenancies will be abolished and replaced with Assured Periodic tenancies

• Tenants must be given mandatory information in writing about the tenancy before the tenancy is entered into, usually as part of the tenancy agreement

• Rents can only be increased once per year and only after serving a Section 13 notice

• No further section 21 notices can be served

• For new tenancies, 

• Landlords cannot accept rent before signing an assured periodic tenancy and may not demand more than a month's rent at a time after the agreement is signed.

• The Government will ban so-called 'rental bidding wars' by requiring adverts list a rental price and banning landlords from accepting or encouraging offers above this listed rent.

• New rules will be introduced that prevent discrimination against tenants with children or those in receipt of benefits.