Millions of landlords and tenants are set to experience significant changes as new regulations take effect starting today.
The Renters’ Rights Act, which was implemented on May 1, prohibits “no fault” evictions and mandates landlords to consider allowing tenants to have pets. One tenant shared his experience with a Section 21 eviction, stating that it had a severe impact on his well-being.
Adrian Fletcher, aged 55, faced a no-fault eviction after raising concerns about severe dampness, mold, and water leakage in his residence. Another tenant was evicted from a property his family had called home for nearly a decade.
James Coleman recounted his emotional distress upon receiving a Section 21 notice, which compelled his family to relocate further away from their children’s schools.
According to Citizens Advice, in March alone, they assisted 2,335 individuals affected by Section 21 notices. The organization also supported over 1,800 people with home repairs and safety issues, as well as more than 1,000 individuals dealing with rent hikes.
Amy Hughes, Advice Manager at Citizens Advice, emphasized the significance of the Renters’ Rights Act in rectifying the power imbalance in the private rental sector and ensuring tenants’ housing security. The Act limits evictions to specific reasons such as rent arrears, antisocial behavior, or property sale.
Key changes under the Renters’ Rights Act include the ban on Section 21 “no fault” evictions, conversion of fixed-term tenancies to rolling periodic tenancies, and the requirement for landlords to furnish tenants with essential information, along with the official Renters’ Rights Act Information Sheet 2026.
Additionally, tenants now need to give two months’ notice before leaving a property, while landlords must provide a two-month notice for rent increases. Tenants also have the right to request permission to keep pets, and landlords can only refuse with a valid reason within four weeks.
Furthermore, landlords are prohibited from requesting more than one month’s rent upfront or engaging in rent bidding wars. Discriminatory terms like “no children” or “no benefits” in rental advertisements or agreements are no longer permissible, except in cases of legal overcrowding or specific licensing restrictions.
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