Renter Rights Bill - Information for Landlords

Renters’ Rights Act 2025

Your Guide to the Changes Ahead

With the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 now law, and implementation dates confirmed, it’s the perfect time to understand what the reforms mean for you.

Inside this leaflet, you’ll find a clear, easy-to-follow breakdown of the key changes and when they come into force—helping you stay compliant and protect your investment with confidence.

The Renters' Rights Act - Roadmap

The Government has published an implementation roadmap setting out when the different parts of the Act will come into force.

27th December 2025 – New investigatory powers for local authorities to inspect properties, request documents and access third-party data will come into force, strengthening enforcement against non-compliant landlords and agents.

1st May 2026 – Phase 1 reforms – including the abolition of Section 21 “no-fault” evictions, the move to rolling (periodic) assured tenancies in place of fixed-term ASTs, changes to the Section 8 grounds, limits on taking rent in advance, a ban on rental bidding, a ban on rental discrimination, new requirements around pet requests, and limits on rent increases to once per year.

From late 2026 – Phase 2 reforms – the national private rented sector database and the new PRS Landlord Ombudsman will begin to roll out, with Ombudsman membership expected to become mandatory for all PRS landlords during 2028.

2030 – Implementation of Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards of EPC C or equivalent unless a valid exemption is in place. Further detail will be released following consultation.

2035 - 2037 – Phase 3 reforms – the extension of the Decent Homes Standard and Awaab’s Law into the private rented sector, subject to consultation and confirmation of final dates.

What this means for landlords

If you manage your own property

You should now review your tenancy documentation, rent-review processes and property standards to ensure they meet the new legal requirements.

Self-managing landlords will also need to understand the new limits on rent in advance, follow the annual rent-increase rules, and ensure they are familiar with the revised Section 8 possession grounds that will replace Section 21. You will remain responsible for ongoing licensing, safety and certification duties, and must be able to provide documents promptly if requested by a local authority once the new investigatory powers come into force.

Penalties for non-compliance will be significant, so early preparation is essential.

If your property is managed by a Winkworth office

You can be confident that these regulatory changes are already being built into our processes, documentation, and property management practices. Your local office will ensure that all required updates are implemented and that your property remains fully compliant as each stage of the Act comes into force.