What changed for renters on 1 May 2026?

A lot changed. The Renters' Rights Act 2025 came into force on 1 May 2026, bringing the biggest overhaul of private renting law in England for 30 years. Here's what matters most.

No-fault evictions ended. Your landlord can no longer serve a Section 21 notice to remove you without giving a reason. They must now have a specific legal ground and give you proper notice — usually four months.

Fixed-term tenancies ended too. All tenancies automatically became "assured periodic tenancies" — rolling monthly arrangements with no set end date. If you had six months left on a fixed-term contract, that end date no longer applies.

Rent increases are now strictly controlled. Your landlord can only raise the rent once a year, with at least two months' notice, using the official Form 4A. Rent review clauses in old contracts are no longer enforceable.

New protections were also added: landlords can't refuse you because you receive benefits or have children; you have the right to request a pet; bidding wars on rental properties are banned; and landlords can't ask for more than one month's rent upfront.

If you haven't received a government information sheet from your landlord explaining these changes, they are required to give you one by 31 May 2026. If they don't, they can be fined up to £7,000.