The Renters' Rights Act is the biggest change to private renting in England for a generation. It is being phased in from 2026, and most of our landlords have the same question: what do I actually have to do differently?
The headline change is the end of Section 21 'no fault' evictions. Landlords will still be able to regain possession, but only on specific grounds, such as selling the property or moving in, and with longer notice periods. Fixed-term tenancies are replaced by periodic tenancies, so tenants can give two months' notice at any time.
Rent increases move to a single, formal route: once a year, with two months' notice, and tenants can challenge an increase at tribunal. Advertising a property and then accepting bids above the asking rent is no longer allowed, so pricing right from day one matters more than ever.
Tenants gain the right to request a pet, which landlords cannot unreasonably refuse, and the Decent Homes Standard is extended to the private rented sector. A national landlord database and a new ombudsman complete the picture.
For fully managed landlords with Executive Lets, none of this lands on your desk. We update tenancy agreements, handle notices and rent reviews under the new rules, and keep the compliance record for every property. If you are let-only or self-managing, we are happy to talk through what the changes mean for your portfolio.
