Renters' Rights Act 2025 - Tenants Hub
What does the Renters' Rights Act 2025 mean for you as a tenant?
One of the headline changes of the new Renters' Rights Act 2025 is an end to section 21 notices (no fault evictions). Your landlord cannot give you a section 21 notice after 1 May 2026
This means most 'no fault' evictions will end.
Instead, private landlords will need a reason to evict you. For example, if:
- you owe rent
- your landlord is selling the property.
This gives tenants greater protections and should help ease worries around requesting repairs.
If you have already been issued a valid section 21 before 1 May 2026 it will still be valid until the notice expires or by 31st July 2026 whichever is the earliest or until possession proceedings are complete.
For help with a current Section 21 notice issued before 1 May 2026 and being threatened with homelessness
After 1st May 2026 most private renters will have a periodic assured tenancy. This will give you stronger rights than an assured shorthold tenancy (AST).
Housing association tenants will get better rights under the Renters' Rights Act 2025, but these changes will happen later.
The changes do not affect the rights of:
- lodgers who live with their landlord
- regulated or protected tenants
- council tenants.
This video from Shelter gives more information about what will change for renters
Key changes of the new act
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Before 1 May 2026 |
From 1 May 2026 |
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Your landlord does not have to give a reason when issuing a section 21 eviction notice. |
Your landlord will need a legal reason to evict you with a section 8 notice. |
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There are no limits on rent in advance. |
Your landlord can only ask for 1 month's rent in advance. |
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Your landlord could get you to agree to a rent increase at any time. |
Your landlord can only put the rent up once a year. They must give at least 2 months' notice. |
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You might have a fixed term tenancy which makes it hard to leave early. |
You will have a periodic tenancy which makes it easier to leave by giving notice. |
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You can often give 1 month's notice to end a periodic AST. |
You will need to give at least 2 months' notice to end a periodic assured tenancy. |
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Your landlord can refuse permission for you to have a pet. They do not need a reason. |
You will have the right to ask your landlord for permission to keep a pet. Your landlord will only be able to say no if they have a good reason. |