England's Renters’ Rights Act to overhaul private rental sector
From 1 May 2026 England will implement the Renters’ Rights Act 2025, a sweeping reform of the private rented market. The legislation ends no‑fault Section 21 evictions, moves all tenancies to rolling agreements, and standardises notice periods to around two months. Rent hikes can only occur once per year, must follow a formal process and can be challenged in property tribunals.
The Act also bans rental bidding wars, caps upfront rent payments at one month, and prohibits discrimination against tenants with children or benefits. Landlords must join a new ombudsman scheme, register on a national database, and face stronger council enforcement, including civil penalties for non‑compliance. Police forces are receiving training to identify illegal evictions and harassment.
Industry experts warn that tribunals may be overwhelmed. A Freedom of Information request showed that a fifth of rent‑review cases already take up to ten weeks, with many lasting longer, and the system currently handles fewer than a thousand such cases a year. RE:UK spokesperson Kate Butler said she is “deeply concerned” that the promised funding may not be enough to cope with the expected surge in disputes.