Landlords Guide to the Renters Rights Act

The Renters’ Rights Act is now in force.

From May 1, the biggest shake-up to the private rented sector in decades is enforced, including the end of Section 21 evictions, rolling tenancies, and tighter rent rules. 

If you’re a landlord, understanding what this means for you has never been more important.

See our FAQ's below:

1. Can I refuse the request for a pet? With the introduction of the Renters Rights Act landlords will be required to consider tenant requests to have pets.  Landlords will have 28 days to consider the tenant’s request and will have to provide valid reasons if they decide to refuse the consent.
2. How much notice do my tenants need to provide when they want to leave? As from 1 May 2026 all tenancies will be periodic tenancies with no fixed term so tenants will be able to stay in the property for as long as they like.  Tenants who want to leave a property will need to give two months’ notice to vacate in line with their rent period. Landlords will need to serve a valid Section 8 notice to gain possession of the property.
3. With the removal of Section 21 under the Renters Rights Act, how can I regain possession of my property? Landlords will only be able to evict tenants and gain possession of their property when they have a valid reason to do so.  Possession grounds under Section 8 have been extended to make it easier for landlords to evict tenants who commit anti-social behaviour, or where landlords wish to sell their property with vacant possession.  The possession grounds for persistent rent arrears have changed, whereby a tenant had to be 2 months in arrears with their rent they will now need to be 3 months in arrears.
4. As there will no longer be any fixed-term tenancies, how can I increase the rent payable? Landlords will still be able to increase the rents payable, rent increases will only be allowed once a year and will need to be by way of the revised Section 13 procedure with the prescribed notice issued to the tenants. The Section 13 notice needs to be issued two months in advance of the rent increase effective date.

Find out more about what changes you need to be aware of in our Renters Rights Act Factsheet here.