The Government is to begin implementing the Renters’ Rights Act on May 1^st next year, it has been announced, along with dates when most of the measures within the legislation will go live.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has been under pressure for some time to name a date including from property industry figures – who have said agents need time to alter internal software and guidelines – but also Labour MPs worried that the ‘positive’ news of the Act getting Royal Assent was starting to fade.

A May 1^st date has now been revealed along with details of which elements of the Renters’ Rights Bill will be introduced first, some of which remain vague.

The British Property Federation’s Kate Butler has slammed this lack of clarity on dates, saying: “The Implementation Roadmap provides a welcome degree of much-needed clarity for the sector on these once-in-a-generation reforms to private renting, and we are pleased to see Government heed our calls for at least a six-month period to prepare.

“We have long advocated stronger tenant protections and greater professionalisation for private rented homes. The Build to Rent sector, in particular, is already ahead of the curve on many of the Act’s reforms, demonstrating best practice in property management.

“However, significant uncertainties still remain that could impede the sector’s ability to operate effectively and deter investment into new homes. It is essential that the Government publish the details of the forthcoming secondary legislation well in advance of their implementation to give the sector time to prepare.

“We continue to highlight the critical need for digitisation and resourcing of the courts, a clear process for monitoring for ‘overwhelm’ of the Tribunal, and establishing a filtering body to manage vexatious section 13 rent increase appeals. Without this, the courts could clog up, creating uncertainty for tenants and driving away investment into building more homes.”

Evictions

The first key element to go live on May 1st will be the abolishment of Section 21 evictions along with new rules on rent increases, the new assured period tenancies, making landlords consider requests to have a pet by tenants, a ban on asking more than one month’s rent in advance, preventing landlords or agents form pitting prospective tenants against one another through rental bidding wars and a ban on discriminating against potential tenants because they receive benefits or have children. Also, 2028 is when the new ombudsman for tenants/landlords is to go live.

Reed adds: “We’re calling time on no fault evictions and rogue landlords. Everyone should have peace of mind and the security of a roof over their head – the law we’ve just passed delivers that.

“We’re now on a countdown of just months to that law coming in – so good landlords can get ready and bad landlords should clean up their act.”

Phases

After the first phase of changes in May, the Renters’ Rights Act will come in two further stages, with phase two introducing the Private Landlord Ombudsman and the Private Rented Sector Database. The database will be rolled out in two stages and the need for landlords to sign up will be staggered by areas across England.

The Decent Homes Standard and introducing Awwab’s Law into the PRS. will be the last element of the Renters’ Rights Act to be implemented with the former coming in last with no date yet for implementation, while the Decent Homes Standard will come in between 2035 and 2037.

Other ‘milestones’ as the Government puts it for agent and landlord diaries include a date some time in April when new guidance for tenants informing them of their rights will be published which, it has been suggested, will have to be given to renters when a tenancy starts.

Prime position

The Prime Minister has spoken to The Big Issue magazine ahead of the announcement, saying he believes that the “vast majority of landlords are respectful and reasonable” – which has led some to wonder why the legislation was needed in the first place.

“Eleven million people in England are renters,” Starmer adds. “And of course, the vast majority of landlords are respectable and reasonable, treating their tenants well and providing an important service. But it’s about time that we rebalanced the system to give renters more rights and more power in their homes. That’s exactly what this Act does.

“This generational uplift in renters’ rights is about putting more power into the hands of people who have had to stand for unfair behaviour for too long.

“By giving renters the rights, security and protections they deserve we’ll be able to prevent homelessness, put an end to unsafe housing and make sure people can live with dignity and without fear for the future.”

Reaction

Ben Beadle, Chief Executive of the National Residential Landlords Association

“The announcement of a commencement date for these important reforms is welcome. However, a deadline alone is not enough,” he says.

“We have argued consistently that landlords and property businesses need at least six months from the publication of regulations to ensure the sector is properly prepared for the biggest changes it has faced for over 40 years.

“Ministers also need to explain how the county court will be ready to process legitimate possession cases far more swiftly than at present. As the cross-party Justice Committee has rightly warned, the court is simply dysfunctional. Vague assurances about digitisation, without an idea of what that means in practice, are simply not good enough.”

Lord Bird, Peer and Founder of The Big Issue

“Six years, four prime ministers and a change of government later, we’re finally seeing Westminster’s promise to strengthen rental rights come good,” he says.

“I thank the government for staying true to their word and not letting this final hurdle – the delay between royal assent and implementation – drag out the wait even further.”

A full version of the interview with Starmer will appear in the next issue of The Big Issue.

Timothy Douglas, Head of Policy and Campaigns

“The UK Government’s announcement on timelines for the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 signals a landmark shift for the private rented sector in England,” he says.

“With increasing layers of regulation, it has never been more important for landlords to use a qualified, professional, and regulated letting agent to help navigate the complexity of compliance and ensure both landlords and tenants are properly protected.

“Professional agents play a vital role in supporting good practice, reducing risk, and maintaining standards across the sector.

“That makes it even more important that the UK Government proceeds with these reforms in a way that maintains landlord confidence, incentivises continued investment in private rental housing, and enables letting agents and landlords to deliver high-quality homes for tenants.”

Andy Hastead, CEO of Barbon Insurance Group.

“It’s been six years since the commitment to the original renters reform was first set out in the Queen’s Speech,” he says.

“After years of false starts, government change and sector engagement fatigue, we now have an implementation date. The fundamentals of the legislation are as they were at the start, and it’s finally into delivery mode.

“As a supplier to the lettings sector, our job is not to market fear, but to support strategically with products that are financially robust, well-capitalised and ready to fulfil tomorrow’s liabilities.

“There is no dispute that the lettings sector is under pressure. Tenants, landlords and agents alike are feeling the strain, but this is a resilient market used to weathering market cycles, complex regulation, and with a collective eye for opportunity.”

Dr Neil Cobbold, Commercial Director, Reapit

“Agents are on the front line of these reforms, but the best agents are already being proactive in protecting their landlords by avoiding evictions,” he says.

“One of the biggest causes of evictions are tenant arrears, and managing that risk starts with tenant vetting, clear automated client accounting and arrears chasing, and having the time to build relationships with tenants, so they know who to turn to if they have issues paying the rent.

“But if these measures fail and an eviction is necessary, we need speedy action from the government to address worsening court delays. When landlords cannot regain possession quickly, it creates financial strain and reduces their confidence in the rental market. Longer timelines also affect tenants who may be stuck in unsuitable situations.

“With the Renters’ Rights Act being implemented from May next year, we will see more eviction cases in court as Section 21 will no longer be an option. Agents, landlords and tenants need confidence that the system can handle this, which requires urgent investment in court capacity.”

Sean Hooker, Head of Redress, Property Redress

“Now we know the ‘when’, landlords will be turning to their agents for clear guidance on what the Renters’ Rights Act means in practice. From 1st May, the expectations on agents around accuracy, compliance and communication will rise sharply.

“Landlords already have access to agent redress, and soon tenants will have direct recourse to the new Ombudsman. In other words, there is no room for uncertainty, every party will have somewhere to take a complaint.

“This is not the time for agents to sit back and wait for all the detail, as they can start to prepare now for last-minute clarification.

“The Act strengthens enforcement and makes clear that agents, as well as landlords, will be held accountable for the advice they give and the standards they meet. With new rules on possession, advertising, rent bidding and tenancy management, mistakes or poor guidance will carry consequences.

“My advice is to get ahead now. Invest in training, tighten your processes and properly understand the new framework to protect both your clients and your business. Those who fail to do so should expect greater scrutiny and higher complaint volumes.”