Renters' Rights Act timeline for landlords

Section 21 "no-fault" evictions ended on 1 May 2026, and tenancies now roll on month to month. Rent can rise only once a year.

Next, you register yourself and each property you let, region by region, from 15 December 2026. Joining the Landlord Ombudsman becomes mandatory in 2028. Awaab's Law for private rentals has no fixed date yet, and the Decent Homes Standard is proposed for 2035 or 2037.

• No more Section 21 evictions. You still get a property back for clear reasons, such as selling, moving in, rent arrears or anti-social behaviour.
• Tenancies roll on with no end date. Tenants can end them with two months' notice.
• Rent can rise only once a year, and tenants can challenge it.
• You can't accept more than the advertised rent, or ask for more than one month's rent upfront.
• You can't refuse tenants because they receive benefits or have children.
• Tenants can ask to keep a pet, and you must consider the request reasonably.

Landlords with existing written tenancies had to give tenants the government's Information Sheet on or before 31 May 2026. Tenancies agreed verbally needed a written summary of the main terms by the same date. If you missed it, the current sheet is on GOV.UK.

Registration opens region by region, with three months per region. West Midlands goes first, from 15 December 2026. South West is last, with a deadline of 14 November 2027.

The fee is £65 a year per property, paid to the government's Register your rental property service, not to Redilet. You can register before your region opens. Failing to register can bring a penalty of up to £7,000.

Joining the Private Rented Sector Landlord Ombudsman becomes mandatory in 2028. The reforms reach social housing tenancies from 2027.

The government is consulting on extending Awaab's Law to private rentals, with the consultation closing on 18 December 2026. The government proposes a Decent Homes Standard for private rentals from 2035 or 2037; the date is still to be confirmed.

Separately, every private tenancy must reach EPC C or equivalent by 1 October 2030, once Parliament approves the regulations.

Registration asks for your gas, electrical and energy certificates. Redilet's free checker reads them and shows which properties have a gap. It doesn't register you, give legal advice or check tenancy terms.

• When will the Renters' Rights Act come into force? (GOV.UK)
• Renters' Rights Act 2025: implementation roadmap (GOV.UK)
• Register your rental property service: guidance for landlords (GOV.UK)
• Changes to private renting (GOV.UK)
• Improving the energy performance of privately rented homes: government response (GOV.UK)

Checked on 5 November 2026. Check them before you act. This page is researched information, not legal advice.