The Renters’ Rights Act 2025, which received Royal Assent on 27 October 2025 and will take effect from 1 May 2026, represents the most significant reform to the private rental sector since the Housing Act 1988. The Act aims to deliver long-overdue changes, giving tenants greater security and freedom to leave substandard properties, and raising standards across the board.

The Act will come into force in three phases, with the first set of reforms starting on 1 May 2026. Phase 1 introduces the tenancy reforms; it will abolish no-fault evictions and will also remove some of the barriers that stop people from renting in the private rental sector, such as requests for large amounts of rent in advance and rental bidding. Phase 2, which will see the implementation of a database, ombudsman and county court reform, has not been given an exact date yet but is expected to be introduced from late 2026. There is little information as to when we can expect Phase 3, but this will largely constitute post-consultation and standards and safety.

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