Renters Rights Act 2025
Quick answer
UK legislation that received Royal Assent in 2025 and came fully into force on 1 May 2026. Abolished Section 21 no-fault evictions, converted all ASTs to assured periodic tenancies and gave tenants the right to request a pet. It also contains powers, not yet exercised, for a private rented sector database (phased rollout from late 2026), a Landlord Ombudsman (expected 2028) and a Decent Homes Standard for the PRS (proposed 2035 or 2037).
At a glance
- Royal Assent
- 2025
- In force
- 1 May 2026
- Section 21
- Abolished
- Decent Homes Standard
- Not yet — regulations not made
- New PRS database
- Not yet — rollout expected from late 2026
Full guide
Read the complete landlord guide on Renters Rights Act 2025
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Open full guideWhy Renters Rights Act 2025 matters for landlords
The Renters’ Rights Act 2025 is the biggest single shift in English private-rented law since the Housing Act 1988. What actually took effect on 1 May 2026 — abolishing Section 21 and converting all ASTs to periodic — means every landlord template, operational process and cash-flow assumption needs reviewing. The legislation is long; the practical reality is that a landlord’s 2025 operating manual is mostly obsolete in 2026.
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Official sources
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Related terms
Company Let
A tenancy where the tenant is a limited company rather than an individual, often so the company can house an employee. Because the tenant is not an individual occupying as their only or principal home, a company let is not an assured tenancy and falls outside the Renters’ Rights Act — it is governed by the contract and common law instead.
Landlord Database (Private Rented Sector Database)
A national digital register of private landlords and rented properties in England, established under the Renters Rights Act 2025. Every landlord must register and provide property details and proof of compliance (gas, electrical, deposit protection, EPC) before letting. Operated by central government, accessible to local councils and tenants. Failure to register is an offence with civil penalty up to £7,000 per breach, and a court can refuse a possession order under Section 8 if the property or landlord is not registered.
Periodic Tenancy
A tenancy that continues from period to period (usually monthly) with no fixed end date. From 1 May 2026 all assured tenancies in England are periodic by default under the Renters Rights Act 2025. Tenants can end the tenancy with two months' notice.
Written Statement of Tenancy
Under the Renters Rights Act 2025, every landlord must give a new tenant a written statement of tenancy terms before or at the start of the tenancy, containing core information such as rent, deposit, landlord details and repair responsibilities.
Rent Bidding Ban
A Renters’ Rights Act 2025 rule that stops landlords and letting agents in England inviting or encouraging offers above the advertised rent. From 1 May 2026 a property must be advertised at a fixed asking rent, and the landlord cannot accept — or invite a tenant to make — a bid higher than that figure. It targets the "sealed-bid" rent auctions that pushed prices up in high-demand areas.
Rent in Advance
Rent paid before the period it covers. From the start of a tenancy the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 limits how much rent a landlord can require up front, and a landlord cannot demand large multi-month advance payments as a condition of letting. It is distinct from the tenancy deposit, which is separately capped and must be protected.