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Renters' Rights Act Guide
Our comprehensive guide provides a clear, accessible overview of the Renters' Rights Act, covering every major reform and its practical implications for landlords and tenants.
The Renters’ Rights Act 2025 is now law marking a major shift in England’s rental landscape. With new rules on evictions, tenancy terms, rent controls, and property standards, we’re here to help you understand what’s changed and ensure you stay compliant and confident in this new era of renting.
The latest news
The first Renters’ Rights Act changes commence on 27 December 2025 - Local Housing Authorities will gain stronger powers to investigate whether a landlord or letting agent has breached certain housing laws, and actions that may involve illegal eviction, poor standards, and non-compliance.
The Renters’ Rights Act 2025 is now law, having received Royal Assent on 27 October 2025.
What Happens Next
1. Formal Proclamation and Publication - Following Royal Assent, the Act still requires a ceremonial reading in the House of Lords and formal publication. Civil servants are now undertaking necessary amendments to secondary legislation and regulations to align with the Act.
2. Implementation Timetable - The Housing Secretary is expected to publish a detailed implementation timeline soon, outlining when provisions will come into effect.
3. Secondary Legislation & Phased Commencement - Changes will be brought into effect progressively via Commencement Orders - a form of secondary legislation managed by government ministers.
We will update and clarify all points when they become known.
Expert insight
Everything you need to know!
Watch Ocean Lettings Directors break down the Renters’ Rights Bill.
In a time of bold headlines and soundbites, it’s easy to lose sight of what the Renters’ Rights Bill really means for landlords and tenants. That’s why Ocean Lettings’ seasoned directors, Jon and Scott, are cutting through the noise.
With decades of hands-on experience in the property market, they offer a grounded, insightful take on the Bill’s key reforms - from the end of fixed-term tenancies to the new rules on rent increases and evictions.
Whether you're a landlord navigating compliance or a tenant curious about your new rights, Jon and Scott explain how these changes will shape the future of renting - without the drama, just the facts.
Click on the topic for further, detailed explanations below each video.
First, why and when...
Expert insight
Section 21 Notice, evictions
The Renters’ Rights Bill 2025 is set to reshape the foundations of England’s private rental sector, introducing a bold new tenancy system that promises to deliver fairness, stability, and clarity for both tenants and landlords.
This reform is the abolition of Section 21—the controversial mechanism that allowed landlords to evict tenants without reason, often with little notice and no recourse. For years, this provision has left tenants vulnerable to sudden upheaval, discouraging them from asserting their rights or challenging poor conditions for fear of retaliatory eviction.
The new system replaces fixed-term contracts with open-ended periodic tenancies, giving tenants the confidence to put down roots and speak up when things go wrong. It also empowers landlords with a clearer legal framework and strengthened possession grounds, ensuring they can still regain their properties when there is a legitimate need.
This is more than a policy change - it’s a cultural shift. One that redefines renting not as a temporary stopgap, but as a stable, secure way of living.
Evictions and possession
Expert insight
Periodic tenancies
At the heart of the bill is the move to periodic tenancies, a shift that promises to rebalance power, increase flexibility, and modernise a rental system.
Gone are the rigid six- or twelve-month contracts. In their place, a more fluid, month-to-month arrangement that gives tenants the freedom to move without penalty. And landlords a clearer, fairer framework for managing their properties.
But what does this mean in practice—and how will it reshape the rental landscape for years to come?
Contracts and agreements
Expert insight
Rent rises with rules
Section 13 Reform Brings Fairness to the Forefront.
In a rental market often marked by uncertainty, the Renters’ Rights Bill 2025 introduces a welcome dose of structure and transparency. At the centre of this is the reform of Section 13 - the legal mechanism through which landlords can propose rent increases in periodic tenancies.
Under the new system, all rent increases must follow the statutory Section 13 process, ensuring that changes are not only predictable but also justifiable. Tenants will receive clear notice, and have the right to challenge unfair increases through a tribunal, levelling the playing field in a way that protects both affordability and accountability.
This isn’t just a procedural tweak—it’s a shift toward a more balanced rental economy, where fairness is built into the framework.
Section 13
Expert insight
Cats and Dogs, and other pets too
A fairer deal for pet owners, Renters’ Rights Bill opens the door to pet-friendly tenancies.
For too long, tenants with pets have faced blanket bans and closed doors. But that’s about to change. The legislation introduces a new right for tenants to request a pet, and crucially, landlords will no longer be able to unreasonably refuse.
This marks a significant cultural shift, recognising that pets are part of the family, not a luxury. To balance the needs of landlords, the Bill also allows them to require pet insurance, offering peace of mind that any potential damage will be covered.
It’s a thoughtful, balanced reform - one that brings compassion and common sense into the heart of the rental market.
Renting with pets
Other important changes
"The bill will improve the current system for both the 11 million private renters and 2.3 million landlords in England."
"It will give renters much greater security and stability so they can stay in their homes for longer, build lives in their communities, and avoid the risk of homelessness."
We hope this article was useful, look out for further updates from our Lettings Directors soon.
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