What's new on Shelter Legal
The pages on Shelter Legal are updated regularly to reflect changes in the law.
This page lists the most recent updates to Shelter Legal.
Rent increases for assured tenants
1 May 2026
The Renters' Rights Act has changed the rules on rent increases for private tenants. A private landlord can increase the rent on an assured tenancy by serving a valid section 13 notice, and a tenant can challenge increases above market rent in the tribunal. Rent review clauses are not valid for private tenancies after 1 May 2026. This page has been updated to cover the new rules.
View amended articleTenancy fees
1 May 2026
The Renters' Rights Act has introduced a cap on rent in advance payments for private tenancies. For assured tenancies starting on or after 1 May 2026, there is a cap on the amount of rent in advance a landlord or letting agent can ask a tenant to pay before they move in. Any rent in advance paid above the maximum amount is a banned fee. This page has been updated with the new rules.
View amended articlePets in private rented accommodation
1 May 2026
The Renters' Rights Act changed the rules on pets in private rented accommodation from 1 May 2026. A private assured tenant can ask their landlord for permission to keep a pet at the property and the landlord must not unreasonably refuse consent. This new page covers the rules for private tenancies from 1 May 2026.
View amended articleTenant ends an assured or assured shorthold tenancy
1 May 2026
The Renters' Rights Act has changed the rules on how a private assured tenant can end their tenancy from 1 May 2026. This page covers the rules for private tenants before and after 1 May 2026 and the rules for social tenants.
View amended articleGround 8 possession
1 May 2026
The Renters' Rights Act has changed the mandatory rent arrears ground 8 for private assured tenancies. From 1 May 2026, the ground 8 notice period and rent arrears threshold for private tenancies have increased. This page has been updated to cover the new rules.
View amended articleSection 21 possession process
1 May 2026
The Renters' Rights Act abolished section 21 notices in the private rented sector from 1 May 2026. A private landlord who served a section 21 notice before this can complete possession proceedings on that notice. This page covers the rules on section 21 notices for private tenancies before 1 May 2026 and section 21 notices in social housing.
View amended articleLocal authority enforcement duties
1 May 2026
The Renters' Rights Act introduced new local authority duties to enforce breaches of tenancy law in the private rented sector. This page covers the rules for the private sector from 1 May 2026.
View amended articleAssured shorthold tenancies
1 May 2026
The Renters' Rights Act changed most private assured shorthold tenancies into assured tenancies on 1 May 2026. This page covers when a private tenant still has an assured shorthold tenancy, and social assured shorthold tenancies.
View amended articleDiscretionary housing payments
1 April 2026
On 1 April 2026, the way discretionary housing payments are administered changed. They are now called crisis and resilience fund (CRF) housing payments. Local authorities have been instructed to use the term CRF housing payments from now on instead of DHP and to update their materials as soon as feasibly possible. Authorities are permitted to continue to use old DHP application routes to allow for a smooth transition.
View amended articleDeductions from universal credit for non-dependants
1 April 2026
This page has been updated with the new non-dependant deduction rate for 2026/27.
View amended article