Renters’ rights have changed: what this means for you
The Renters’ Rights Act has introduced major changes to private renting in England.
From 1st May 2026 new rules apply to the vast majority of private sector tenancies, strengthening tenants’ rights and increasing rental stability.
The Act arguably contains the most significant changes to housing law in a generation.
Here are the key things you need to know
1) If you are renting privately, you are highly likely to be impacted by these changes
It does not matter how long you’ve lived somewhere, or what your existing tenancy agreement may say, the new rules will almost certainly apply to you. It’s important to find out how the changes impact you and your tenancy.
2) Renters’ Rights are now stronger
A number of changes have improved rights for private tenants:
- On the 1st May 2026, all existing assured shorthold tenancies converted to assured periodic tenancies, giving greater security to tenants. Requiring landlords to give notice to tenants based on specific grounds set out in law.
- No-fault evictions have been abolished. Landlords can no longer s.21 notices to evict private tenants. To check what type of tenancy you have, use Shelter’s tenancy checker here.
- Rent increases are now limited to once in a 12-month period. The landlord has to use the correct procedure to inform tenants of a rent increase and tenants can challenge if they believe the new rent is too high.
- There are new rules about requesting to keep a pet. Landlords cannot unreasonably refuse requests.
- The Act prohibits discrimination against a tenant because of a protected characteristic under the Equality Act. It also bans landlords from refusing to rent a property to a tenant who is on benefits or has children.
You can read more out more about the changes in detail at the links below:
3) Your tenancy agreement might not reflect the new law
Tenancy agreements written before these changes may contain terms which are no longer enforceable. Some private renters may not even have been given a written tenancy agreement at all. However, the new rules still apply. If you’re unsure how the changes affect you, seeking legal advice can help you better understand your situation.
At Toynbee Hall, we provide free housing advice through our Free Legal Advice Centre.
You can contact us today for free, confidential housing advice. We support tenants across London with housing issues and tenancy questions. We can help you:
- Look over your tenancy agreement
- Explain how the new law applies to your situation
- Talk through your options if something is happening in your tenancy
We run a free appointment-only housing legal clinic every Wednesday and we also offer a women only clinic once a month on a Saturday.
We partner with City law firms to offer housing advice on non-urgent matters such as service charge issues, evictions, housing conditions and private sector tenancy issues. This service is delivered by volunteer trainee solicitors, whose work is supervised by Toynbee Hall staff with housing expertise.
