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UK: The Renters Rights Bill gained Royal Assent yesterday evening and became law, marking the biggest shake up of the rental market in several decades.
At the core of the Act is the abolition of Section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions and abolish fixed-term tenancies. Minister are expected to reveal in the next few weeks a timeline for implementation of the reforms. The reaction to the Bill from industry has been largely positive.
• Helen Gordon, chief executive of the UK’s largest BTR landlord Grainger
“We welcome the passage of the Renters’ Rights Bill, which we believe will raise standards across the private rented sector while ensuring the market remains attractive to long-term, responsible investors. The abolition of no-fault evictions, when coupled with court reform and robust processes for addressing poor tenant behaviour, strikes the right balance between improving security for renters and protecting communities. By confirming that rents will remain aligned to the open market and ruling out rent controls, the Government is providing stability for investors and landlords, while ensuring reforms deliver stronger rights and greater confidence for renters. As the Bill moves to Royal Assent, we are ready to implement these changes with immediate effect if required, although implementation is not expected until 2026.”
• Brendan Geraghty, CEO, Association for Rental Living
“The Association for Rental Living welcomes the passing of the Renters’ Rights Act into law as legislation that will improve the rental experience and support the professionalisation of the rental sector. We welcome broader recognition by the Government of the role of the Build to Rent sector in delivering housing, as noted in the revised NPPF earlier this year, but reiterate our call to recognise that the Build to Rent sector already delivers, and in many cases exceeds, the outputs which this Act is designed to bring. As a customer centric sector, building trust and loyalty with our customers is a cornerstone of Build to Rent culture. With Royal Assent now granted, we now call for the guidance the Minister has promised on the practical implementation of the Act to enable our membership to transition smoothly and operate efficiently. The Association for Rental Living stands ready to support our members with the changes within the Act as we continue our work in defining and upholding the highest standards for renting.”
• Ben Beadle, chief executive of the National Residential Landlords Association
“After years of debate and uncertainty, today marks an important milestone for the private rented sector. With the Renters’ Rights Act now on the statute book, the sector needs certainty about the way forward. This is the most significant shake-up of the rental market in almost 40 years, and it is imperative that the new systems work for both tenants and responsible landlords. The NRLA stands ready to work with the Government to ensure the reforms are implemented in a way that is fair, proportionate and deliverable.”
• Graham Hayward, managing director of rent guarantor service Housing Hand
“The Renters’ Rights Act, which received Royal Assent today, is good not just for tenants but for the private rented sector as a whole. Assent gives certainty around how HMO and BTR tenancies will operate. However, widespread understanding of the Act lies at the heart of making the most of its benefits; Housing Hand’s research reveals that 75 per cent of private renters don’t know how the Act will impact them. We have been actively preparing for this change for the past two years, as we’ve tracked the progress and evolution of the Renters’ Rights Bill into legislation. The challenge now is the implementation plan and sequence – along with the detail of how purpose-built student accommodation will be exempt, and how providers of it will reposition in this new market. It’s now time for the private rented sector to pull together and ensure that we support all those who are part of the future of the sector – tenants and accommodation providers alike.”
• Sián Hemming-Metcalfe, operations director at property inspection software provider Inventory Base
“The Renters’ Rights Act marks a pivotal moment for the lettings industry, moving us from debate to delivery after what seems like a very protracted period of political back-and-forth. While it undoubtedly raises the bar on compliance, it also provides the certainty and structure that landlords and agents have been waiting for. What’s vital now is that the Government resists the temptation to keep moving the goalposts. The private rented sector is essential to housing supply, and constant legislative change only fuels uncertainty. The focus should now be on supporting responsible landlords rather than penalising them.”
• Vann Vogstad, CEO of shared accommodation platform Coho
“HMOs will be hit first and hardest by this legislation. These properties are already subject to a huge amount of regulation, yet they play a crucial role in providing affordable, flexible accommodation across the UK. Any further pressure risks reducing availability in this vital part of the sector, ultimately to the detriment of the very tenants the Government claims to be protecting.”
