Renter’s Rights Act to take effect from 1st May 2026!

The Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government has published an implementation Roadmap outlining 3 phases:

1 – 1^st May 2026 – tenancy reform measures, including:

• Periodic tenancies
• Section 21 abolished
• Cap on rent in advance
• Anti-discrimination measures
• Ban on rental bidding
• Annual rent increases via section 13 notices
• Tenant’s rights to request a pet

2 – Introduction of the Landlord Ombudsman requirements and the rollout of the new PRS Database from late 2026.

3 – Implementation of the Decent Homes Standard and Awab’s Law (timing to be confirmed, with consultation expected 2035-2037.

What does this mean?

• The new tenancy system will apply to all private tenancies. All existing tenancies will be converted to the new system, and any new tenancies after 1^st May 2026, will be governed by the new rules.

Section 21

• Under the Renters’ Rights Act, Section 21 notices that are served before 1^st May 2026 are still valid until the notice expires (6 months from the date of the notice) or when the tenant vacates the property.

Written statements

• All new tenancies must have a written tenancy agreement that includes specific information to be set out by the UK Government in secondary legislation.
• Landlords won’t need to change or re-issue existing written tenancy agreements. Instead, they will need to provide tenants with a copy of this UK Government-produced information sheet, explaining how the reforms may have affected the tenancy. (These details are to follow imminently).
• Any tenancy without a written tenancy agreement (because it is based on a verbal agreement or it is a protected tenancy), landlords will need to provide a tenant with a written document that covers the required information.