The UK’s new Renters’ Rights Act & its effect on Landlords

The Renters’ Rights Bill is now the Renters’ Rights Act; it has been given Royal Assent and is now part of UK Law. This is the most significant shake-up of the rental market in almost 40 years.

The Act introduces major reforms to the Private Rental Sector, providing greater clarity and protection for both landlords and tenants while promoting higher standards and consistency across the industry.

As professional letting agents with over sixty years’ experience and already operating at the highest level, we will be supporting landlords and tenants alike as they adjust to the new legislation.

Below, H Capital Director, David Bojan, talks us through the new key measures that Landlords need to know.

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Key measures Landlords need to know:

• Abolishment of Section 21 evictions and move to a simpler tenancy structure. End of so-called ‘no-fault’ evictions: The measure abolishes Section 21 of the Housing Act 1988, which allows landlords to evict tenants without a stated reason.

  
  

• All tenancies will be converted to a single, “rolling” periodic tenancy model. Tenants can end these with two months’ notice, and landlords will rely on specific legal grounds for possession.  

  
  

• Provide stronger protections against no-fault eviction by ensuring tenants are able to appeal excessive above-market rents, which are purely designed to force them out.  

  
  

• Ban on rent bidding: Landlords and agents are prohibited from asking for or accepting offers of rent that are higher than the initial advertised price.

  
  

• Annual rent increases: Rent can only be increased once per year, and a minimum of two months’ notice must be given. Tenants can appeal to a tribunal if they believe the increase does not reflect market values.

  
  

• Discrimination protection: Landlords will not be able to discriminate against prospective tenants based on whether they have children or receive state benefits.  

  
  

• Decent Homes Standard: The measure will ensure properties in the private sector meet minimum quality requirements.

  
  

• New Private Rented Sector Landlord Database: A national register of landlords and their properties will be created to help both tenants and landlords. Alongside the new database, landlords must also join the new Landlords Redress Scheme before any property can be marketed for rental.

  
  

• Pet requests: Tenants will have the right to request a pet in their rental property, and landlords cannot unreasonably deny this request.  

  
  

• Stronger local authority enforcement: Introducing a package of investigatory powers and bringing in a new requirement for local authorities to report on enforcement activity.

The UK Government will publish guidance for the timetable and process towards how the Act will be implemented in the coming weeks.

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