The Renters’ Rights Act 2025: Key legal changes in the private rental sector

The major changes introduced by the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 come into force on 1 May 2026 and will have a significant impact on the rental sector. The Act is intended to provide better security and improved rights for tenants. Whilst the changes will be implemented over time, we have summarised some of the key provisions which are coming into force on 1 May 2026.

The key changes are as follows;

Abolishment of Assured Shorthold Tenancy Agreements
Abolishment of ‘no fault’ evictions (Section 21 Notices)
New grounds introduced under Schedule 2 for Section 8 Notices – which is now the only legal route for landlords to regain possession of a property
The requirement for landlords to provide new “Prescribed Information” to tenants
Tenants will have the right to request permission to keep a pet, which landlords cannot unreasonably refuse.

What will this mean for you?

Assured Periodic Tenancies

Assured Shorthold Tenancy Agreements will no longer exist and can no longer be created.

This means the end of fixed term tenancy agreements.
- All tenancies will instead run on a rolling / periodic basis, (which may be weekly, but more commonly monthly) in line with the rent payment period.
- Any existing Assured Shorthold Tenancy Agreements will automatically transfer to Assured Periodic Tenancies, and they will continue on a rolling basis with no fixed end date.

Rent demands & increases

Landlords will no longer be permitted to demand rent in advance and no more than 1 month of rent before the tenancy start date.
The first rent payment can only be demanded on the start date of the tenancy.
Landlords will only be able to increase the rent once every 12 months via a section 13 notice and tenants will be able to challenge rent increases if the increase is deemed to be unfair.

Termination of Tenancy & Notices

Landlords will no longer be able to end a tenancy without a reason (for example, as was previously the case by serving a section 21 notice under the previous legislation). Instead, landlords will now need to rely on one of the statutory grounds under Schedule 2 of the Housing Act 1988 when serving a Section 8 Notice to end the tenancy.
- - However, it is important to note that if a section 21 notice or section 8 notice (under the previous legislation) was served prior to 1 May 2026 and court proceedings have not yet been issued, the notice can still be relied upon (as long as the notice is valid) and court proceedings can be issued up until 31 July 2026.

Tenants will still be able to end the tenancy by providing 2 months written notice to the landlord or managing agent.

Prescribed Information

Landlords must provide the Government’s new prescribed information for tenants or written terms of tenancy by 31 May 2026. Failure to comply with these obligations may result in significant fines of up to £7,000 or £40,000 for repeated breaches.

Pets

Tenants have the right to make a written request for permission to keep a pet in the property, Landlords must provide a response within 28 days of the request and cannot unreasonably refuse consent.
Tenants cannot be required to obtain pet insurance; however, landlords may request that insurance is in place, provided that any such requirement is reasonable.

Changes to grounds for possession under Schedule 2, Housing Act 1998 (Section 8 Notice)

Ground 1 (updated) – The Landlord requires the property for occupation of themselves or a family member
New Ground 1A – The Landlord is intending to sell the property
New Ground 5A – The Landlord requires possession of the property for occupation by an agricultural worker
Ground 8 (updated) – 13 weeks or 3 months of rent arrears is required for a mandatory possession order, and a 4-week notice needs to be provided to the tenant.
Previously, only 8 weeks (or 2 months) of rent arrears were required, with a 2-week notice period.

Require Advice?

If you require any further advice on the above or on any changes introduced by the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 then please contact one of our Dispute Resolution (Landlord & Tenant) Solicitors: –
- Anna Zulfukar – [email protected] (Portsmouth office – 02392 828131)
- Joe Carruthers – [email protected] (Chichester and Worthing office – 01243 778844)
NOT LEGAL ADVICE. Information made available on this website in any form is for information purposes only. It is not, and should not be taken as, legal advice. You should not rely on or take or fail to take any action based upon this information and we will not be liable for any information that is relied upon as legal advice.