The Renter's Rights Act 2025
What is the Renter's Rights Act?
An Overview
The Renters’ Rights Act 2025 is a major reform of England’s private rented sector.
The Act aims to provide tenants with greater security over their home by enhancing rights and protections as well as introducing new minimum standards for housing quality.
The Act will be brought into force in a phased rollout from 1st May 2026 to give landlords, tenants, letting agents, and local authorities time to prepare. Landlords and their letting agents, in particular, will be required to understand what the reforms mean for their business practices, and to adapt them accordingly.
The government have issued a full roadmap of the implementation of the Renter’s Rights Act which is available for download from the sidebar or at the bottom of the page if on mobile.
Our summary of this is laid out below
RRA: Phases
Phase 1
Phase One – From 1 May 2026
Tenancy Reform & Core Legal Changes
This is the most operationally significant phase.
Changes expected to take effect:
✔ Abolition of Section 21
✔ Transition to periodic tenancies
✔ Revised possession grounds
✔ Rent increase reforms
✔ Anti-bidding measures
✔ Strengthened discrimination protections
✔ New information requirements
This phase fundamentally alters how tenancies are created, managed and ended.
More information on Phase One can be found here
Phase 2
Phase Two – Late 2026
Database & Ombudsman Rollout
✔ Launch of the PRS Database
✔ Introduction of the Landlord Ombudsman
This phase increases transparency and formal dispute resolution.
Phase 3
Phase Three – Timeline TBC
Property Standards Reform
✔ Decent Homes Standard in the PRS
✔ Awaab’s Law extension
✔ Further quality and hazard enforcement measures
This phase focuses on raising property conditions across the sector.
