Renters' Rights Act 2025
Renters' Rights Act 2025
This page is being kept under review and will be updated and information is released.
The Renters' Right Act comes into effect in phases from 1 May 2026 and is intended to give tenants stronger rights.
From 1 May 2026
When a landlord or letting agent is seeking a tenant, they must not:
- Ask for or accept payment of more than 1 month's rent in advance (unless the payment is from a council helping the prospective tenant)
- accept more than the advertised rent
- discriminate against people who claim benefits or have children
If a landlord or letting agent wishes to rent to you:
- A prospective tenant can be asked to pay a holding deposit of one week's rent, which can then be used as part of the first month's rent.
- After successful referencing if the landlord agrees to let you the property, the prospective tenant signed the tenancy agreement and pays the deposit, which is limited to 5 weeks rent (unless the payment is from a council helping the prospective tenant).
- The landlord signs the tenancy agreement.
- The tenancy has been 'entered into' and the landlord can ask for the initial rent.
- The tenant pays the initial rent (less any holding deposit). The initial rent cannot be more than one calendar month's rent.
- the tenant moves into the property on the first day of the tenancy.
If you are a tenant already renting privately on 1 May:
- By 31 May 2026 a landlord or anyone acting on their behalf must issue each tenant named on the tenancy with a government information sheet The Renters' Rights Act Information Sheet 2026 - GOV.UK
- All new and existing tenancies become Assured Periodic Tenancies (Section 4A periodic tenancy), but there is no need for a new written tenancy to be issued.
- A section 21 notice cannot be served to end a tenancy from 1 May. If a section 21 was issued before 1 May, the tenancy remains an Assured Shorthold tenancy and the landlord has until 31 July to initiate court proceedings. If the landlord fails to commence proceedings before 31 July, the tenancy becomes an Assured Periodic Tenancy, and the landlord has one month to provide the Government Information Sheet.
- A landlord can only end a tenancy under specified grounds and must use a section 8 notice, including if they wish to sell or move into the property. there are mandatory and discretionary grounds for ending a tenancy Assured tenancy forms - GOV.UK
- A tenant has the right to ask for permission to keep a pet and their landlord cannot unreasonably refuse.
- A tenant can seek to end the tenancy from day one, but will need to give two months' notice that must expire at the end of a rent period, unless the landlord agrees for the tenancy to end sooner.
- the landlord can only put the rent up once a year, must give 2 months' notice, and use a section 13 notice Assured tenancy forms - GOV.UK
Further provisions that do not yet have an implementation date are:
- Abolition of assured shorthold tenancies for social rented housing.
- Creation of a new private landlord ombudsman.
- Landlords required to register on a private landlords database.
- Changes to how private landlords must respond to disrepair.
The Renters' Rights Act does not apply to people lodging with a resident landlord.
More information can be found at:
Guide to the Renters' Rights Act - GOV.UK
Renters Rights Act: private tenants - Shelter England
If you are a tenant or landlord concerned about your rights or responsibilities, you can contact us online Contact us - Section 1 - Customer Self Service | Torridge District Council.
If you are concerned about disrepair in a rented property, further information about how the council can help is available at: My rented property is in poor condition, what can I do? | Torridge District Council.
