If you’ve ever had to wade through the murky waters of Liverpool’s rental market, you’ll most likely have noticed that ‘you get what you pay for’ isn’t a saying that’s particularly applicable here. With prices higher than the Shard, landlords that avoid replying to emails as if they’re competing in an Olympic sport, and the fact that the rug could – quite literally – be pulled from beneath your feet at a moment’s notice; it’s all been rather bleak on the rental front over the past few years. But all that’s about to change.
I come bearing a rather large glimmer of a hope in the form of the Renters’ Rights Act; the biggest shake-up to renting in England for over 30 years. The recently-approved bill will transform renting in England, and the countdown to it coming into play is officially on.
What is the Renters’ Rights Act
Approved back in October, the Renters’ Rights Act will see a series of significant changes brought into effect in England. The Act includes banning fixed-term tenancy contracts, outlawing ‘bidding wars’, setting clearer rules for renters with pets, and abolishing no-fault evictions.
Once the wheels of the Renters’ Rights Act are officially in motion, properties will be rented out on a ‘rolling basis’ instead of on a fixed-term 12 or 24-month contract. This is set to prevent tenants paying for substandard properties, allowing them to give just two months’ notice if they wish to vacate the property. Landlords will no longer be able to pit prospective tenants against each other in ‘bidding wars’, ask for more than one month’s rent in advance, or discriminate against potential tenants who have children or receive benefits.
No-fault evictions will be banned, meaning that landlords will no longer be able to evict tenants for complaining about poor living conditions. This is a huge step forward for renters, as thousands of renters in England are currently left vulnerable to homelessness each year under Section 21 no-fault eviction notices.
The new laws will also make it illegal for landlords to increase rent prices more than once a year. And the government has recently released a timeline for when it will all come into effect, alongside a set of advanced guidelines to support landlords and lettings agents.
When will the Renters’ Rights Act come into effect?
The government have confirmed that the Renters’ Rights Act will come into play as of May 1, 2026. The new rules are set to affect over 11 million people in England, creating a far fairer and more stable systems for renters.
The Renters’ Rights Act applies only to England. Scotland abolished no-fault evictions back in 2017, but Wales and Northern Ireland still have no-fault evictions under something similar to Section 21.
Chief Executive of Generation Rent, Ben Twomey, said: “This new law is a vital step towards re-balancing power between renters and landlords and should be celebrated.
“Our homes are the foundation of our lives, but for too long our broken renting system has left renters staring down the barrel of poverty and homelessness. For decades, Section 21 evictions have forced renters to live in fear of being turfed out of our homes, preventing us from raising valid concerns with our landlords. At last, we know when this outdated and unfair law will be sent packing.
“This Renters’ Rights Act is the result of years of tireless campaigning from the renter movement, alongside the dedication and strength of ordinary renters. With change on the horizon, I hope that renters across England can rest a little easier tonight in recognition of what we have achieved together.”