Renters' Rights Act: Changes for private tenants
New rights and responsibilities for landlords, letting agents and tenants in England
Reforms to the private-rented sector in England will come into effect from 1 May 2026, through the Renters' Rights Act 2025.
The aim of these reforms is to provide greater stability and security for private renters.
Changes include:
- Abolition of Section 21 'no fault' evictions and fairer possession grounds
- Rent increases limited to once per year under a formal process
- Introduction of new Private Rental Sector (PRS) Landlord Ombudsman
- Creation of a PRS database
- Strengthened rights for tenants to request pets
- Application of the Decent Homes Standard and Awaab's Law in the PRS
- Protection against discrimination of tenants with children or in receipt of benefits
Guidance
The following government guidance will help landlords, letting agents, tenants and housing professionals understand the upcoming changes:
- Guide to the Renters' Rights Act
- Implementation roadmap for the Renters' Rights Act
- Guidance for landlords
We will continue to keep both landlord and renter communities updated about this in line with the provisions of the Renters' Rights Act 2025.
Information sheet
Landlords must give their tenants the government's Renters' Rights Act Information Sheet by 31 May 2026.
This is to ensure they are fully informed of their rights and the changes introduced by the new legislation.
Failure to comply with this requirement can result in a fine of up to £7,000. We strongly recommend landlords review their current processes and ensure that all required information is provided to tenants.
Landlord FAQs
You can find answers to frequently asked questions on the Renters' Rights Act in the government's guidance for landlords.
If you have further queries about renters' rights or any other tenancy relation issues, you can contact our Private Sector Housing team at: privatesectorhousing@fenland.gov.uk
Countywide Landlord Forum - March 2026
In March 2026, the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Private Sector Housing Group hosted a countywide landlord forum to outline the key changes introduced by the Renters' Rights Act and answer common questions from the sector.
The sessions was led by DASH (Decent and Safe Homes) Services, who have produced a post‑session handbook. This includes a link to the e‑learning slides used during the event.
Download the handbook: Landlord Forum Post Session Handbook - Renters' Rights Act (PDF, 129 KB)
