Last week, the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 (previously the Renters’ Rights Bill) which is a sweeping reform of the private rented sector in England received Royal Assent on 27 October 2025. 

Changes will not take place immediately, but will be phased in from early 2026. 

As a tenant (or landlord), what does this mean for you?

Key Changes 

• Abolition of “no-fault” evictions Section 21 notices (allowing landlords to evict without giving a reason) will be abolished and Landlords must rely on legitimate grounds under the reformed Section 8 framework. This is likely from Mid-late 2026.

• Fixed-term tenancies replaced All Assured Shorthold Tenancies (ASTs) and fixed-term contracts will convert to rolling, periodic tenancies (monthly or appropriate period). This is likely from late 2026.

• Tenant notice to quit Tenants can terminate a tenancy at any time by giving two months’ notice.

• Limits on rent increases Rent can only be increased once per year and only to a “market rate”. This is likely from 2027.

• Advance rent and deposit caps Requests for rent in advance are capped (typically 5 weeks). For tenants with pets, landlords may ask for an additional deposit (e.g. up to 8 weeks), but the standard 5-week deposit cap remains for those without pets. 

• Pet permissions & non-discrimination Landlords must consider tenant requests to keep pets and cannot unreasonably refuse. Blanket bans on letting to families or benefit recipients are outlawed.

• New bodies & enforcement A Private Rented Sector Ombudsman will handle disputes and complaints

•  Local authorities gain stronger enforcement powers and landlords may face fines for failing to meet standards.

• Decent Homes Standard & property conditions A reformed “Decent Homes Standard” will be introduced for all privately rented homes, covering safety, comfort, heating and repair obligations. This is likely from 2027.

Implementation & Timing

• As mentioned above, the Act is not yet fully in force but most measures are expected to roll out in stages from 2026 onward.

• Importantly, the Act applies to England (private sector) and different rules remain in place for Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland.

CreditLadder can help you improve your credit score

CreditLadder can improve your credit position by reporting your rent payments. CreditLadder is the first way to improve your credit score and position across all three of the main Credit Reference Agencies in the UK, namely Experian, Equifax and TransUnion. Building up a high credit score has a lot of benefits, including helping you access finance at better rates - this can also help save you money. CreditLadder also runs a free mortgage application service in partnership with Tembo which will tell you how much you could borrow.

Remember the content provided in this article is for information purposes only and should not be considered as advice.