Before 1 May 2026 |
From 1 May 2026 |
|---|---|
| You landlord can evict you for no reason with a section 21 notice. | Your landlord will need a legal reason to evict you with a section 8 notice. |
| No limits on rent in advance. | Your landlord can only take or accept 1 month's rent in advance. |
| Your landlord might pressure you to agree to a rent increase at any time. | Your landlord can only put the rent up once a year. They must give at least 2 months' notice. |
| It can be hard to leave a fixed term tenancy early. | You will have a periodic tenancy which makes it easier to leave by giving notice. |
| You can often give 1 month's notice to end a periodic AST. | You will have to give 2 months' notice to end an assured periodic tenancy, unless a shorter notice is agreed in writing. |
| Your landlord can refuse permission for you to have a pet. They do not need a reason. | You will have the right to ask for permission to keep a pet. Your landlord can only say no if they have a good reason. |
Your landlord cannot give you a section 21 notice from 1 May 2026.
This means most 'no fault' evictions will end.
Instead, private landlords will need a reason to evict you. For example, if:
If your tenancy agreement has a break clause, your landlord will not be able to use this to end your tenancy once the law changes.
Most private renters will have an assured tenancy. This will give you stronger rights than an assured shorthold tenancy (AST).
You could still be evicted if you get a valid section 21 before the law changes.
Your landlord will not be able to ask for more than 1 month's rent in advance.
Councils will be able to fine landlords who ask for or accept more.
Your landlord will only be able to put your rent up once a year.
You will get at least 2 months' notice of a rent increase.
Tenancy clauses that say the rent can go up in other ways will no longer apply.
You will be able to go to a tribunal if you think a rent increase is too much.
The tribunal:
Your landlord will not be able to evict you for challenging a rent increase.
There will be no more fixed term assured shorthold tenancies (AST).
If you have a fixed term AST, it will become a 'periodic' assured tenancy.
This means it will not have a set end date.
It will be a 'rolling' monthly or weekly tenancy.
You will have better protection from eviction because your landlord will need a reason to give you notice to leave.
You will usually have to give your landlord 2 months' notice before you leave.
You could give less than 2 months if either:
Your landlord can only end your tenancy by going to court. They will need a reason to evict you.
You will have an assured tenancy with stronger rights.
You will have these new rights even if your agreement still says 'assured shorthold'.
New tenants will get a written statement of terms before agreeing to a tenancy
This should have basic information like:
You will be able to ask to keep a pet in your rented home.
You will need to:
Your landlord can only refuse if they have a good reason.
They will normally have 4 weeks to reply in writing.
They might ask for more information about the pet. They will have another week to write to you with their decision from when you send that information.
Tenancy clauses that say you cannot have a pet will not apply after the law changes.
Your rights will not change on 1 May 2026 if your landlord gives you a valid eviction notice before this date. This could be a:
The changes do not affect the rights of:
Housing association tenants will get better rights under the Renters' Rights Act but these changes will happen later.
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