Renters’ Rights Act Readiness Checker

The Renters’ Rights Act 2025 (RRA) received Royal Assent on 27 October 2025 and Phase 1 takes effect on 1 May 2026 — the single biggest overhaul of England’s private rented sector since the Housing Act 1988. Every private landlord with an existing assured shorthold tenancy (AST) needs to check their compliance and prepare for the new rules.

Section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions are abolished entirely. All existing fixed-term ASTs automatically convert to periodic (rolling monthly) tenancies. Rent review clauses in tenancy agreements become void — Section 13 with the new Form 4A is the only legal way to increase rent, limited to once every 52 weeks with 2 months’ notice. Tenants gain the right to request pets with a mandatory 28-day response window. A new Government Information Sheet replaces the How to Rent guide, and landlords must serve it on all existing tenants by 31 May 2026 or face civil penalties of up to £7,000 per offence.

Enhanced enforcement powers for local authorities have already been in effect since 27 December 2025. The PRS Database and a new Private Rented Sector Ombudsman are coming in later phases (2026–2028). If your tenancy agreements, eviction notices, and landlord processes haven’t been updated for the Renters’ Rights Act, you could face fines up to £7,000 per offence — or find you can’t legally recover possession of your property.