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Guide for private landlords - 9. Preparing for the upcoming reforms
The Renters’ Rights Act 2025 completed its passage in Parliament on Wednesday 22 October 2025 and received Royal Assent on Monday 27 October 2025. As of November 2025, a number of the measures in the Act have not come into force. The government has published a timeline outlining plans for implementation.
See more here: Renters' Rights Act 2025: Implementation roadmap - GOV.UK
Key reforms landlords should prepare for
| Area | Current Law | Proposed Change |
|---|---|---|
| Evictions | Section 21 & Section 8 | Section 21 abolished; new possession grounds |
| Tenancies | Fixed-term ASTs | Periodic tenancies only |
| Rent increases | Any time (by agreement) | Once per year, 2 months’ notice, challengeable |
| Pets | No right | Tenants can request; cannot unreasonably refuse |
| Discrimination | Equality Act only | Extends to benefits & children |
| Property standards | HHSRS | Decent Homes Standard applied |
| Hazard response | Best practice | Awaab’s Law deadlines |
| Registration | None | National landlord database (PRS portal) |
| Redress | Voluntary schemes | Mandatory ombudsman membership |
Preparation tips:
- Keep abreast of Government updates.
- Review your tenancy templates.
- Budget for potential new compliance duties.
- Join an accredited landlord association or local forum.
