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Renters’ Rights Act 2026

Renters’ Rights Act 2026

Renters’ Rights Act 2026

Wednesday, June 10, 2026

From 1st May 2026, the Renters Rights Bill changed how private renting works. This historic overhaul of the sector aims to give the 11 million renters in England more security, something campaigners have called for for years. The Act ends ‘no fault’ evictions, meaning landlords now need a legal reason to ask tenants to leave. It also introduces new rules on rent increases, tenancy types and notice periods.

Overview of key changes

Here's what the Renter's Rights Act means for you:

  • No more no-fault evictions: Landlords can't evict you without a reason.
  • Legal grounds required: Landlords must give a legal reason to evict, such as rent arrears, selling the property or antisocial behaviour.
  • No more fixed-term tenancies: Most renters now have a rolling (periodic) tenancies with stronger rights.
  • Stronger rules on rent increases: Landlords can increase rent only once per year, must give two months’ notice, and tenants can challenge unfair increases.
  • Ending you tenancy: You must give two months’ notice to leave.

The end of no-fault evictions

Previously, landlords could issue Section 21 notices, also known as no-fault evictions. This allowed them to evict tenants for no reason, often with very little notice. This practice led to thousands of people across the country becoming homeless.

After 1st May, landlords must provide a reason to evict their tenants, for example rent arrears or because they are selling the property. This change protects tenants from unfair evictions and provides more stability.

No more fixed-term tenancies

Previously, landlords could offer fixed-term tenancies. They set these tenancies for a specific period, which then ended after a fixed length of time, for example 12 months.

From 1st May, the government replaced fixed-term assured shorthold tenancies (AST) with ‘periodic’ assured tenancies. All tenancies now roll on a weekly or monthly basis and do not have a fixed end date. Rolling tenancies give renters more protection because landlords must provide a reason to ask them to leave, instead of simply ending a short fixed-term tenancy

Stronger rules on rent increases

Landlords now can only increase their tenants’ rent once per year. They also must give two months’ notice of any increase, instead of one. If tenants believe the new rent does not match market levels in their area, they can ask a tribunal to review it within six months of starting their tenancy.

These changes offer much-needed protection for renters. Frequent and extreme rent increases worsen an already expensive rental market, where many people struggle to make ends meet. Rent increases can push people into arrears, poverty and eviction.

Other key changes

The new Act introduces several additional measures to improve the private rented sector and enhance renters’ experiences across the country. These include:

  • Landlords cannot ask for more than one month’s rent in advance to secure a property, and authorities may fine those who do. This improves affordability for people looking for homes.
  • Renters can request to keep a pet, and landlords can only refuse with a valid reason.
  • Renters must give their landlord two months’ notice before they leave their tenancy.

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