The Landlord Law Renters Rights Act Page
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The Renters Rights Act 2025, when it comes into force, will bring about massive changes in English tenancy law.
Athough we don’t as yet know the commencement date, as its contents are known we are now able to create new guidance content.
This page contains links to all the content we have created on the new legislation. We are using the same ‘topics’ as we have for the rest of the site content.
If you are looking for post Renters Rights Act guidance on a particular topic and don’t find it below, this will either be because we have not created that new content yet, or becuase that topic has not been changed by the act.
Any questions on the new legislation, please put them on the members’ forum.
The Renters Rights Bill has received the Royal Assent and is now the Renters Rights Act 2025. The main commencement date is currently unknown.
Links to our other Renters Rights Act pages
Terminology & Government Documents
Unlike the Welsh legislation (which created a new code) the Renters Rights Act works by amending existing legislation, mainly the Housing Act 1988.
However you may find the following list of new and existing terminology helpful.
Terminology
The Housing Act 1988 created two new tenancy types, which are regulated by that act. These were assured and assured shorthold tenancies.
The only real difference between the two was the availability of the no-fault section 21 procedure for ASTs.
ASTs have now been abolished (along with s21) meaing that the only tenancy type regulated by the Housing Act 1988 is the assured tenancy.
On the commencement of the Renters Rights Act 2025 this will become the default tenancy type in England.
All assured shorthold tenancies and fixed-term assured tenancies will, on commencement of the act, be converted to periodic assured tenancies.
Fixed terms will no longer be possible. Indeed trying to create an assured fixed term tenancy will make landlords vulnerable to a fine of up to £7,000
This is generally taken to mean the law which has been built up by Judges’ decisions in cases over the years (along with custom and practice), as opposed to the law which is set out in an Act of Parliament or statute.
Some common law rules can date back to Medieval times or even earlier. Find out more here.
These are tenancies which are not regulated by an Act of Parliament. So the rules which apply to them will be ‘common law’ rules rather than the rules set out (for example) in the Housing Act 1988 or the Rent Act 1977.
Government documents and guidance
- The Renters’ Rights Bill section on the Parliament website
- Government Guide to the Renters’ Rights Bill
- Investigatory powers guidance for Renters’ Rights Act 2025 – the government guidance for Local Authorities on how to use their new powers
Documents and Forms
I have prepared an ‘interim’ AST agreement for you to use before the commencement of the Renters Rights Act.
I can’t do a fully Renters Rights Act compliant tenancy until the government have published the prescribed terms which must be included in it.
The link will take you to the tenancy agreements page. If this is the first time you have used one of our agreements, please scroll up and read the rest of the page.
I am also developing a version for a room in a shared house, which hopefully will go online soon.
Other forms
Note that many of the forms on our main documents and forms page will still be relevant.
If you are not sure, post a question on the Members Forum.
Checklists
These are the standard Landlord Law checklists which we are periodically updating to include reference to the changes brought by the new legislation.
The Landlord Property Audit Kit
This is being periodically updated to include guidance on the new legislation. All landlords should do an audit using our kit at least once every year.
Occupation Types
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
- I let out a self contained flat in the building where I live. What tenancy type is this?
- What is different about common law tenancies?
- Longer lets – what is the significance of giving a tenant a fixed term of more than three years?
- What is a periodic tenancy?
- What are the differences between fixed term and periodic tenancies in England?
- What are the differences between joint and several tenancies and renting individual rooms in a shared house?
About letting agents
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Consumer Law
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
- Can I refuse to accept applications from applicants on Universal Credit or Benefit?
- Can I refuse to accept tenants with children in my rented property?
- Do I have to tell anyone or get permission before I let my property? England
- My tenants have allowed others to move in making the property overcrowded. What can I do?
Shared properties and HMOs
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Checks and rental payments
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
- What are the rules on rent in advance?
- Can I evict sitting tenants after I have bought a property?
- Can I refuse to accept applications from applicants on Universal Credit or Benefit?
- Can I refuse to accept tenants with children in my rented property?
- Can tenants challenge the rent?
- Can we change the date that the tenant pays rent?
- How can I increase my tenant’s rent?
- What happens to a guarantee when the tenant dies?
- How do I increase rent by the notice procedure?
Deposits
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Tenancy Agreements
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
The Property Condition
Ending Occupation Contracts
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
- Can I evict sitting tenants after I have bought a property?
- How long do the possession notices last before the Landlord needs to serve another one? England
- How much notice should a tenant give if he wants to leave?
- How should I activate a break clause?
- Our tenant is in prison – how do we deal with this?
