Our Journal

Introduction

The long anticipated Renters Right Bill finally received Royal Assent on 27th October, becoming the Renters Rights Act 2025.

The UK Government issued a press release upon the Act receiving Royal Assent, which you can read here.

There’s no doubt the Act represents the most significant shift in the private rented sector for a generation. It redefines the relationship between landlords and tenants — aiming to create greater fairness, accountability, and stability while maintaining essential flexibility for property owners.

At its core, the Act seeks to modernise renting by making it more transparent, predictable, and fit for how people actually live today.

There’s been a huge amount of debate about the pro’s and con’s of the Act and talk of many landlords looking to exit the market due to the changes. 

However, we believe with the right guidance, landlords have no need to fear this change.

We’ve put together a summary of the key points contained within the act and how they will affect our Landlord clients. Many of the implementation timelines are yet to be confirmed, however we will keep all our clients updated on a regular basis and confirm timelines once there is further clarity.

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Key Changes at a Glance

1. Tenancies Become Periodic by Default

Fixed-term tenancies are being replaced with rolling periodic agreements.

This means tenancies will continue indefinitely unless the tenant chooses to leave or the landlord ends the tenancy using valid legal grounds for possession. 

The aim is to give tenants security whilst preserving a landlords’ ability to regain possession where there is a clear reason to do so.

2. Clearer, Evidence-Based Grounds for Possession

The end of “no-fault” evictions under Section 21 marks a major change.

Landlords can still recover possession, but only under specific, evidence-based grounds — such as selling the property, moving in themselves, serious rent arrears, or anti-social behaviour. 

This introduces more structure and transparency, reducing uncertainty and in-turn the risk of potential disputes on both sides.

3. Stronger Standards & Decency Rules

For the first time, the Decent Homes Standard will apply to private rented homes (this has historically only been applicable to homes provided in the Social Rented Sector).

Properties must be free from serious hazards, in good repair, and offer adequate facilities and heating. 

This raises the bar for housing quality and formalises what most responsible landlords already provide.

4. Fairer Rent Reviews

Rent can only be increased once every twelve months, and even then, only with the proper notice. 

Tenants have the right to challenge rent rises they believe to be excessive. This promotes fairness while ensuring landlords can still adjust rents in line with market conditions.

5. Greater Transparency & Information

Landlords must ensure that all material information — such as the rent, deposit amount, council tax band and EPC rating — is provided before a tenancy commences. Tenants should be able to see, at a glance, what they’re committing to. 

This enhanced clarity also protects landlords, by reducing the risk of disputes later on.

6. The Right to Request Pets

Tenants can request permission to keep pets, and landlords must consider these requests reasonably. Landlords can still say no where there’s a valid reason (such as a restriction in a property’s leasehold terms), and it is reasonable to request a tenant to take out pet insurance to cover against any potential damage to the property or its contents.

7. Enhanced Local Authority Powers

Local authorities gain greater enforcement tools, including fines, banning orders, and rent repayment powers. The focus is on targeting poor practice while supporting compliant landlords who manage their properties responsibly.

8. Rent Payments & Bidding Wars

Another big change is how rent can be paid. Under the new rules, tenants can’t be required to pay more than one month’s rent in advance, meaning an end to large lump-sum payments upfront such as six months’ rent. This makes obtaining comprehensive references on prospective tenants more important than ever, ensuring proper time is given to checking a tenant’s history, income, and reliability in order to provide confidence in their ability to pay on time, and having sufficient protection in place such as rental insurance, should the need arise.

There’s also now a ban on competitive bidding — meaning tenants can’t be encouraged or invited to offer more than the advertised rent to try and secure a property. 

It’s about fairness and transparency, ensuring everyone has the same opportunity, and preventing pressure tactics in competitive markets.

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What This Means for Landlords

The Renters’ Rights Act raises expectations — not only about how homes are maintained but how landlords communicate, document, and manage tenancies.

For landlords who already operate professionally and responsibly, the transition should be smooth: it’s about refining the paperwork, updating procedures, and keeping clear records, all of which should be simple if using a reputable letting & management agent such as Tavistock Bow.

Residential landlords should find this new legal framework provides more predictability and transparency, resulting in fewer disputes and better long term relationships with their tenant occupiers.

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How Tavistock Bow are supporting our Landlord clients

The Renter’s Rights Act is certainly complex — but compliance doesn’t need to be. 

Here at Tavistock Bow, we’re already helping landlords translate the perceived challenge of these legal changes into practical steps that protect their residential property assets, strengthen relationships with tenant occupiers and provide increased peace of mind to all parties.

As part of our ongoing Letting & Management services we offer:

• Comprehensive compliance reviews to ensure documents, certificates, and processes meet or exceed the new standards.
  
  
• Produce updated tenancy agreements and notice templates tailored to the new laws
  
  
• Provide guidance on pets, repairs and a landlord’s obligations under the Decent Homes Standard, enabling clients to respond confidently to tenant requests.
  
  
• Ongoing advisory support to help clients stay informed and remain compliant both now and in the future as things develop further.
  

In short – the Renters’ Rights Act is reshaping the sector — but with the right guidance, our landlord clients can navigate this new landscape with clarity, control, and confidence.

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For more information and to receive a comprehensive guide on how to prepare for new tenancies, ensure your property is compliant and details of legal grounds for possession, as well as staying up to date on evolving implementation timelines, sign up for our free Landlord Updates by registering HERE