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The Government’s Renters’ Rights Bill has now become law, receiving final approval from the King on Monday 27 October 2025.

The Bill is set to transform the private rented sector bringing in new rights and responsibilities for landlords, letting agents and tenants.

As a landlord, you play an important role in delivering these reforms and will need to understand what these changes mean for you and your business. This will ensure you can be confident that you are complying with the law and providing your tenants with a safe, affordable and decent home.

The following changes will happen on 1st May 2026. If a letting agent acts on your behalf, then they will need to follow these rules too.

• Section 21 abolished: ‘No-fault’ evictions are no longer permitted. Eviction is allowed only on valid legal possession grounds.

• Wider possession grounds: Landlords can regain a property if they need to sell, move in themselves, or house close family members.

• Most tenancies become rolling tenancies: New and existing tenancies will automatically convert to assured periodic ‘rolling’ tenancies.

• Updated tenancy requirements: All tenancy agreements must comply with the new rules.

• Renters’ notice: Tenants can end a tenancy at any time with two months’ notice.

• Rent increases: Rent may only be increased once per year.

• Rental bidding banned: Practices such as competitive bidding between tenants are prohibited.

• Deposit limits: Only one month’s rent can be taken upfront between signing the tenancy and its start date.

• Non-discrimination: Refusing tenants because they have children or receive benefits is illegal.

• Pets: Landlords must consider tenant requests to keep pets and cannot refuse unreasonably.

Other elements of the Renters’ Rights Act will take effect in later phases.

All landlords in Brent who rent out houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) will soon be required by law to hold a licence.

Following a public consultation and Cabinet approval of the scheme on 13 October 2025, landlords renting out smaller HMOs will be required to obtain a licence from 2 February 2026. 

The new Additional HMO Licensing Scheme covers smaller HMOs with three or four tenants from different households.

A Mandatory Licence already applies to larger HMOs housing five or more people and a Selective Licence is required for any non-HMO rented property, such as a single-let or family home.

The new scheme is designed to help ensure properties are safe, well managed, and maintained to a high standard. It aims to raise standards for renters while supporting responsible landlords who manage their properties properly.

An Additional HMO Licence, valid for up to five years, will cost £1,040 from 2 February 2026. Landlords who apply early can secure the lower current rate of £840, with licences becoming active from February 2026. 

Read more: https://housinghub.campaign.gov.uk/renting-is-changing/?utm_source=e-shot&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Landlord+bulletin+-+November+2025+special+