The government has announced that the Tenants’ Bill of Rights will come into effect on May 1, 2026.
The law would abolish “no-fault” evictions under Section 21, introduce open tenancies, limit rent increases to once a year and cap prepayments of rent to one month.
The bill received royal assent on October 27 and the government has today set out a timetable for two of the bill’s three phases to come into force.
The first phase will begin on May 1 and will ban evictions under section 21, abolish fixed-term tenancies and limit upfront rent to one month. Additionally, from this point forward landlords and their agents will not be permitted to request or accept offers above the advertised rent.
Likewise, from May 1, the government will expand the scope of offenses committed by landlords or agents for which tenants can claim back rent, such as landlords failing to comply with new “no subletting” periods after evicting tenants from selling the property or moving in.
During the first phase, renters will also have the right to formally request pets in their homes.
The second phase will begin in late 2026, with a specific date yet to be determined.
It will introduce a new private rented sector landlord ombudsman and landlord database to provide tenants with information about their homes and who they rent from.
The government has yet to set a date for the start of phase three, but will take steps to improve standards for private rented homes.
It will introduce the Decent Homes Standard, which sets a minimum quality level for rental properties, and introduce Awab Laws, which will set strict timetables for remediating hazards such as damp and mold in private rented properties.
Ben Twomey, chief executive of Generation Rent, said: “This new law is an important step in rebalancing the power between tenants and landlords and should be celebrated.
“Our homes are the foundation of our lives, but for too long, Section 21 evictions have forced renters to live in fear of being evicted, preventing us from raising legitimate concerns with our landlords. We finally know when this outdated and unfair law will be thrown away.
“This Renters Bill of Rights is the result of many years of tireless work by the renters movement, and the dedication and strength of ordinary renters. Our work is far from done, particularly in challenging the uncontrolled and soaring costs of renting, but, with changes on the horizon, I hope renters across England can relax a little tonight and recognize what we have achieved together.”
Earlier this month, Pegasus Insight said the Tenant Bill of Rights would push rents higher as landlords deal with tighter regulations and higher compliance requirements.
