Renters' Rights
The Renters Rights Act 2025 is now law and brings the most significant transformation to the Private Rented Sector in over 40 years, giving the council more enforcement and investigatory powers, providing tenants with greater security, fairer treatment, improved housing standards whilst also providing a more structured and transparent framework for landlords. The act is being implemented in three phases with phase 1 being applicable from 1st May 2026, which will include the following:
- End Section 21 “No-Fault” Evictions
- Abolish Fixed-Term Tenancies and introduce Assured Periodic Tenancies
- Introduce rent regulation and limit rent increases to once a year
- Ban rental bidding and rent in advance
- Reform possession grounds so they are fair for both landlords and tenants
- Make it illegal to discriminate against renters who have children of receive benefits
- Require landlords to consider tenants requests for pets
- Limit rent increases to once a year.
- Strengthen both council enforcement options and rent repayment orders.
Phases 2 of the Governments planned implementation will involve the introduction of the Private Rented Sector Database, and the Private Rented Sector Landlords Ombudsman Service, both expected in late 2026, with phase 3 involving the introduction of the decent homes standard and Awaab’s Law into the Private Rented Sector, however no dates for this have been announced.
If you are a landlord and would like more information, please click here
If you are a tenant and would like more information, please click here
If you need to contact us please email privatesectorhousing@winchester.gov.uk