Commencement dates for key legal changes introduced by the Renters' Rights Act 2025.
Renters' Rights Act 2025 changes in force
In force now
Renters' Rights Act provisions in force now.
No new section 21 notices
Most private tenancies are now assured, meaning landlords cannot end them using a section 21 notice.
Private landlords who served a section 21 notice before 1 May must start possession proceedings by 31 July 2026 at the latest.
Date of change: 1 May 2026
Read more about the new rules for section 21 notices on Shelter Legal.
Private tenancies become periodic assured
Most private assured shorthold tenancies are now fully assured.
Fixed term tenancies are now monthly periodic tenancies.
Date of change: 1 May 2026
Read more about the new rules for assured and assured shorthold tenancies on Shelter Legal.
Changes to tenant's notice to quit
A tenant can end a private assured tenancy by serving two months' notice, increased from one months' notice.
Date of change: 1 May 2026
Find out more about the new rules for a tenant's notice to quit on Shelter Legal.
New rules for increasing rent
A landlord must use the process in section 13 Housing Act 1988 to raise the rent in a private tenancy and cannot rely on a rent review clause or contract variation.
Date of change: 1 May 2026
Read more about the new statutory rules for rent increases on Shelter Legal.
New grounds for private assured tenancies
A private landlord can use new section 8 grounds to issue a possession claim for a private assured tenancy, including when they want to sell or move in.
Date of change: 1 May 2026
Read more about the new grounds for possession in assured tenancies on Shelter Legal.
Change to mandatory rent arrears ground 8
The ground 8 rent arrears threshold has increased.
The amount of rent arrears that must be outstanding for the court to make a possession order on ground 8 has increased from 8 weeks to 13 weeks, and benefit delays can be raised in a defence.
Date of change: 1 May 2026
Read more about the new rules for ground 8 possession on Shelter Legal.
Ban on rent in advance
A private landlord or letting agent must not demand payment of more than one months' rent in advance, or accept a tenant's offer to pay rent in advance.
Date of change: 1 May 2026
Find out more about the rules on tenancy fees on Shelter Legal.
Ban on rental bidding
A private landlord or letting agent must list a property to let at a fixed rent, and must not accept or encourage any higher bids.
Date of change: 1 May 2026
Find our more about the rules for private rented accommodation on Shelter Legal.
Ban on rental discrimination
A landlord or letting agent must not discriminate against people who may claim benefits or have children when letting private rented accommodation.
Date of change: 1 May 2026
Read more about rental discrimination on Shelter Legal.
Changes to private rented sector offers in homeless applications
The requirements which apply when a local authority makes an offer of private rented accommodation to a homeless applicant have changed. This is because of the abolition of assured shorthold and fixed term tenancies.
Date of change: 1 May 2026
Read more about the new rules for private rented sector offers on Shelter Legal.
Changes to the definition of homelessness
The definition of when someone is threatened with homelessness has changed, as section 21 notices have been abolished in the private rented sector.
Date of change: 1 May 2026
Find out more about the new definition of threatened with homelessness on Shelter Legal.
New rules on pets
A private tenant has the right to ask for permission to keep a pet and their landlord cannot unreasonably refuse.
Date of change: 1 May 2026
Find out more about pets in private rented accommodation on Shelter Legal.
New investigatory powers for local authorities
New local authority powers to enter business premises and seize documents as part of an investigation into whether a private landlord has breached rented housing legislation.
Date of change: 27 December 2025
Find out more about the new local authority investigatory powers on Shelter Legal.
Start date set
Renters' Rights Act provisions due to come into force on a fixed commencement date.
The government's implementation roadmap is available on Gov.uk.
Renters' Rights Act reforms in social housing
The government has confirmed that the abolition of assured shorthold tenancies and section 21 notices, along with other Renters' Rights Act changes will be extended to social housing tenancies in 2027.
Date of change: October 2027
Awaiting start date
Renters' Rights Act provisions with no fixed commencement date.
The government's implementation roadmap is available on Gov.uk.
Private landlord Ombudsman
A new Ombudsman will be created to deal with complaints about private landlords.
This requires new regulations to be laid.
Private landlord database
Landlords will be required to sign up to a private landlord database.
This requires new regulations to be laid.
Private rented sector disrepair
Changes will be made to how private landlords must deal with disrepair, including extending Awaab's law and the Decent Homes Standard to the private rented sector.
This requires new regulations to be laid.
Updates from the Renters' Rights Act 2025
Visit Shelter's News and Updates for the latest discussion and commentary on the Renters' Rights Act 2025.