Renter Rights Bill - Information for Tanants

Renters’ Rights Act 2025

Your rights, protections and what to expect
under the new reforms

The Renters’ Rights Act 2025 is now law, marking one of the most significant reforms to the private rented sector in decades. These changes are designed to enhance protections for tenants, raise housing standards, and provide greater stability, clarity, and fairness across all stages of a tenancy.

This guide sets out the key rights and safeguards being introduced, together with the expected implementation dates, so you can understand exactly how the new rules will support you throughout your tenancy.

The Renters' Rights Act - Roadmap

The Government has set out a timeline for when different parts of the Renters’ Rights Act will come into force. The roadmap below explains when the changes happen and, importantly, how each stage will improve your rights, security, and living conditions.

27th December 2025 – Stronger protection start – Local authorities will gain new powers to inspect rental properties, request documents and access third-party data. This means councils will be better equipped to identify unsafe or non-compliant landlords and take action more quickly.

1st May 2026 – Major improvements to your tenancy rights – Phase 1 introduces major improvements for tenants, including the end of Section 21 “no-fault” evictions, a move to flexible rolling monthly tenancies, fairer rules around possession, limits on rent in advance, and a cap of one rent increase per year. Landlords will no longer be able to encourage rent bidding or discriminate against tenants with children or on benefits, and you’ll have a new right to request a pet with clear, reasonable response times.

Late 2026 - 2028 – Free independent help for tenants – From late 2026, you’ll begin to benefit from the introduction of a national landlord database and the new PRS Landlord Ombudsman. This
will make it easier to check that your landlord is properly registered and will give you access to free, independent help if something goes wrong.

2035 - 2037 – Higher housing standards and faster repairs – Between 2035 and 2037, the Government plans to extend the Decent Homes Standard and Awaab’s Law into the private rented sector. This will further strengthen your right to a safe, well-maintained home and require landlords to tackle issues such as serious damp and mould promptly and effectively.

What this means for you as a tenant

The new rules are designed to give you clearer rights, stronger protections, and better
housing standards throughout your tenancy. As the changes come into force, you will benefit
from greater security against unfair evictions, improved clarity over rent increases, stronger
safeguards around repairs and property condition, and new routes to challenge issues if they
arise.

If your property is managed by a Winkworth office, you can be confident that these changes are
already being built into our processes, documentation and property management practices.

Your local office will make sure the correct legal updates are applied, that your rights under the
Act are fully observed, and that your home remains compliant with the new standards as each
stage of the reforms is introduced.