Get ready for the Renters' Rights Act
- Good Landlord Charter
- Nov 17, 2025
- 4 min read
What is the Renters’ Rights Act?
The Renters’ Rights Act is a generational milestone for the people who live and work in the private rented sector (PRS). The Act received Royal Assent on 27 October 2025, marking a historic moment for housing. The government has provided a timeline for the implementation of the Act.
The law aims to professionalise the private rented sector by introducing stronger tenant protections, improving housing standards, and making the rental experience fairer for everyone.
The Good Landlord Charter is preparing landlords by working with Supporters to meet the criteria that overlap with the Act. Read about the Good Landlord Charter’s criteria for improving the rental experience.
You can read the government’s guide for the full Act on GOV.UK. An overview of the measures includes:
Abolition of no-fault evictions and fairer possession grounds
Introduction of new PRS Landlord Ombudsman
Creation of a PRS Database
Strengthened rights for tenants to request pets
Application of the Decent Homes Standard and Awaab’s Law in the PRS
Protection against discrimination of tenants with children or in receipt of benefits
The Good Landlord Charter works with all residential landlords to improve the rental experience. The Charter is free for landlords to register as Supporters. When registered, landlords get access to benefits to get ready for some of the changes made by the Renters’ Rights Act. If you rent in Greater Manchester, register today to get free advice, policy templates, training and more.
No more fixed-term tenancies
The Act introduces periodic tenancies to replace fixed-term tenancies. This provides tenants and landlords with flexibility to adjust to changing circumstances. Tenants will be able to provide a 2-month notice to terminate a tenancy at any point.
Landlords who are registered with the Charter get free advice and training on setting clear start and end-of-tenancy processes.
Read the GOV.UK guide about the Renters’ Rights Act to learn more about the changes to tenancy lengths.
Abolition of no-fault evictions
Use of no-fault “Section 21” evictions has been abolished. In its place, Section 8 eviction grounds have been expanded and strengthened. This means landlords must provide specific grounds for possession, such as rent arrears or damage to the property.
The new grounds under Section 8 include a landlord’s decision to sell or move a family member into the property. This also means landlords will not be able to rent the property again within 12 months of serving a Section 8 eviction due to selling or moving family into the property.
Fairer rent costs
The Act introduces several measures to professionalise the collection and setting of rent. These measures will be introduced on 1 May 2026. The legislation includes protections for:
Rental bidding
Taking rent in advance
Increasing rent
To tackle the rising costs of the housing crisis, tenants will be protected against rental bidding when applying for a tenancy. Landlords and agents will need to publish an asking rent for properties and are prohibited from asking, encouraging or accepting bids above the price. This is aimed at the small minority of people aiming to profit from the housing crisis.
The Renters’ Rights Act will amend the Tenant Fees Act 2019 to prevent landlords from asking for more than one month's rent in advance when starting a tenancy. This amendment aims to make renting more flexible for tenants and landlords who experience a change in circumstances.
The Act also introduces a more professionalised method of setting rent. Landlords will be able to increase rents once per year to the market rate. If the tenant believes the proposed rent exceeds the market rate, they will be able to challenge the increase at the First-tier Tribunal.
This means that how the Tribunal works is being reformed. Currently, the Tribunal can decide to increase the rent beyond what the landlord initially requested. With the reform, tenants will never pay more than what the landlord asks for. The Tribunal will also not be able to backdate rent increases. This means that the rent increase applies from the date of the Tribunal’s decision. This reform protects tenants from suddenly being in debt. If there is undue hardship, the Tribunal has the power to defer the rent increase by 2 months after the Tribunal’s decision.
Protections against discrimination
The Act is taking direct action to address discrimination against families with children or those in receipt of benefits. Overt discrimination, including exclusory advertising practices, will be prohibited.
Landlords and agents have the right to choose who they rent to and ensure sustainable tenancies using affordability reference checks. Landlords and agents cannot make their decision based on whether the tenant has children or is in receipt of benefits.
Get help with setting advertising standards and ensuring your homes are inclusive.
Decent Homes Standard and Awaab’s Law introduced to the PRS
The Decent Homes Standard (DHS) is being introduced to the private rented sector for the first time. Most landlords already provide safe and decent homes. The introduction of DHS will hold private and social housing homes to the same standard.
Awaab’s Law was introduced after the tragic and avoidable death of 2-year-old Awaab Ishak due to prolonged exposure to mould in a social rented home. The Law introduced requirements for social housing providers to address hazards, such as damp and mould, within specific time periods.
These requirements will apply to private landlords to ensure the safety of all people, regardless of their housing provider.
Make sure your properties meet the new requirements and speak to an advisor on meeting the Charter’s safe and decent standard.
Read more about the Government’s consultation for the Decent Homes Standard in the private rented sector.
