Renters’ Right Bill final stages due to be completed next week
Three years after the Tories' first introduced their reform act, and a year since Labour launched its version, the Bill is now only days away from becoming law.
Letting agents hoping that the Government’s busy political workload might delay the Renters’ Rights Bill becoming law may be disappointed after time was made next week for its final stages to be completed.
The amendments made to the Bill during its last stage in the Lords are now due to be debated on Monday (8th September) at 2.30pm after which any contentious changes vetoed by MPs will be then ironed out during ‘ping pong’ prior to the legislation going live.
It will be a close-run thing, nevertheless. Parliament rises on 16th September to allow the parties to have their annual conferences.
So… what happens next – the expert view
The letting agent
Susie Crolla, MD of the Guild of Letting & Management
“I think the elements of the Act to be implemented first will be the removal of Section 21, introduction of the Assured Periodic Tenancies for all existing and new tenancies, implementing Section 13 for rent increases, relying solely on the Section 8 notice to obtain vacant possession, tenants’ requirement to serve 2 months’ notice and the penalties for breach,” she says.
“I believe that mandatory membership to the Landlord Ombudsman Service, along with the tenant’s right to request pets, preventing landlords from requesting more than one month’s rent in advance, prohibiting landlords from accepting above the advertised rent and rental bidding, as well as the preventing discrimination against tenants in receipt of benefits and with children, are also likely to be implemented on 1st April 2026.
The landlord
Suzanne Smith, Independent Landlord blog
“Some technical parts of the Renters’ Rights Act will be implemented first, but in terms of anything significant for landlords, I think the Commencement Date of the new assured tenancy system will happen first,” she says.
“This includes the abolition of Section 2, the conversion of all existing assured shorthand tenancies to periodic assured tenancies, and the new rules on rent increases.
“Assuming the government gives the private rented sector between six and 12 months following Royal Assent to get ready before this Commencement Date, I think the earliest date will be April 2026, although June 2026 is more likely. The latest will probably be October 2026.”
The redress chief
Sean Hooker, Head of Redress at PRS
“This expected timetable means it should be all hands to the pump to prepare for the changes,” he says.
“I suspect, however too many will either blissfully ignorant of the changes or be like rabbits caught in the headlights.
“But what will be needed as a matter of urgency will be clear guidance as soon as the legislation has been enacted.
“I hope that the Government has been working on this support behind the scenes and have most of it ready, except for last minute tweaks that may come out of the ping pong process.”
The views from Smith and Crolla are within a Kate Faulkner report published by the National Landlord Investment Show.
