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5/12/25 4:43 pm
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After years of debate, drafts and delays, the Renters’ Rights Bill has finally made it through Parliament. Whether you welcome it or dread it, one thing is certain, it is happening. The reform that has dominated housing conversations for so long it almost felt theoretical, is now set to redefine how this sector operates.
This Act will reshape the relationship between landlords, tenants and agents. It will bring new expectations around fairness, transparency and accountability, and raise the bar for professional standards across the industry.
While the Bill’s passage brings certainty that change is coming, the crucial details around when it will take effect, although imminent, remain unknown. No implementation date or transition plan has been published. Tenant groups are naturally calling for immediate enforcement, saying renters have waited long enough, while landlords are asking for a realistic transition that gives them time to adapt their systems, documentation and existing tenancies. Whatever period is finally set, it will almost certainly feel too long for one side and too short for the other.
A major question is what happens to current Section 21 cases already in motion. Some landlords have notices served or hearings pending. The Government will want to avoid a rush of last-minute evictions before abolition takes effect, but landlords need clarity on how ongoing cases will be treated. Guidance on this point will be essential to avoid confusion and pressure within the courts.
In truth, we do not need a date to start preparing. Everyone in the sector knows change is coming and has a good sense of what the Bill will bring - the end of Section 21 evictions, the move to periodic tenancies, the creation of a private rented sector Ombudsman, the extension of the Decent Homes Standard, limits on rent bidding and stronger rights for tenants to challenge unfair increases. It will also prohibit discrimination against tenants receiving benefits or with children, and give renters the right to request pets, which landlords will not be able to refuse unreasonably. The direction of travel could not be clearer. What is less certain is how many people truly understand what those changes mean in practice.
From my perspective, the first and most effective step is to take time to read and absorb the details. The Renters’ Rights Bill has been discussed for years, but how many have actually sat down to see what it means for them personally? This is not about legal jargon, but rather about knowing how the new rules will affect your own business. Will your tenancy agreements need revising once all tenancies become periodic? How will you evidence a fair rent increase if challenged? Do you have clear written procedures for repairs or complaints? Many landlords will find they are already operating to a good standard, but knowledge is what separates confidence from uncertainty.
Once you have understood what is coming, start putting the pieces in place. Review your tenancy documentation, your communication with tenants and agents, and how you record decisions. Make sure rent review clauses are transparent, that property standards meet Decent Homes requirements, and that you can show fairness in how you handle requests, from repairs to pets. These steps taken now will save considerable stress later.
In my role as Head of Redress, I see every day how many disputes could be avoided with clearer communication and better systems. From a redress perspective, most disputes stem from poor records and unclear processes, not bad faith. The new regime won’t change that, but it will surface it faster. Complaints that might once have faded away informally will have a clear route to resolution. That is not something to fear. It is a chance to prove professionalism through openness and responsiveness. A well-handled complaint can strengthen trust rather than damage it.
The Renters’ Rights programme was originally presented as a consensus, yet it has revealed divisions across the sector. The challenge now is to bridge that gap and turn reform from a political promise into workable progress.
Royal Assent is imminent, and commencement dates are not yet confirmed, but the direction of travel is clear. The real question is not when the change will arrive, but how ready you will be when it does.
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