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.
Assured tenancies
1 May 2026
The Renters' Rights Act changed most private tenancies into assured tenancies on 1 May 2026. This page covers private and social assured tenancies, including assured tenancy rights.
View amended articleSection 8 notices
1 May 2026
The Renters' Rights Act introduced new and amended possession grounds for private assured tenancies from 1 May 2026. This page covers section 8 notices served on private or social assured tenants.
View amended articleAssured tenancy mandatory grounds from 1 May 2026
1 May 2026
The Renters' Rights Act changed mandatory grounds for assured tenancies. This page covers mandatory grounds for section 8 notices served on private assured tenants from 1 May 2026.
View amended articlePossession when a landlord wants to sell or move in
1 May 2026
The Renters' Rights Act introduced new and updated grounds for possession for private assured tenancies, including ground 1 for when the landlord wants to move into the property and ground 1A for when the landlord wants to sell. This new page covers the rules for private tenancies from 1 May 2026.
View amended articleLocal authority ends interim duty to homeless applicants
1 May 2026
This page has been updated with information about what happens when the interim duty is ended early by a local authority. There is no right to an internal review and the decision can only be challenged by judicial review, for example if an applicant is not given reasonable notice to leave the accommodation. The local authority must continue its inquiries and any steps agreed under the relief duty until it reaches a decision on the main housing duty.
View amended articleJoint tenancies
1 May 2026
A joint tenancy is where two or more people hold the tenancy jointly and are both liable for rent and other costs. This page has been improved and updated with information about what a joint tenancy is, when it can be ended, what happens when a joint tenant leaves and more.
View amended articleRight to rent immigration checks
1 May 2026
Between 30 March 2020 and 30 September 2022 landlords could accept scanned copies or photographs of a prospective tenant's documents rather than the originals. This was a temporary measure brought in during the coronavirus pandemic. Landlords must now either carry out a manual check of the original documents, an online check with the Home Office, or use an identity service provider.
View amended articleRental discrimination
1 May 2026
The Renters' Rights Act changed rental discrimination rules from 1 May 2026. A landlord or agent must not discriminate against prospective tenants who claim or might claim benefits or have children under 18. This page has been updated to cover the new rules.
View amended articleLegal definition of homelessness and threatened homelessness
1 May 2026
The Renters' Rights Act has changed the definition of threatened with homelessness. From 1 May 2026, a private tenant is threatened with homelessness if they have been served with a valid section 8 notice which expires within 56 days. This page has been updated to cover the new rules.
View amended articleTenancies that cannot be assured
1 May 2026
The Renters' Rights Act has updated the law on when tenancies cannot be assured. From 1 May 2026, some student lettings classed as purpose built student accommodation cannot be assured tenancies. This page has been updated to cover the new rules.
View amended article