What is the background?
The Renters’ Rights Bill is on track for Royal Assent in July to come into force between October 2025 and January 2026.
This Bill introduces new rights for tenants such as the abolition of “No-fault” evictions, environmental focused regulations, and important changes for landlords in tenancy structures and rent increase provisions.
What are the key changes provided by this Bill?
- – Abolition of “No-Fault” Evictions – Landlords will not be able to evict tenants without a valid legal reason. So, landlords will have to provide defined reasons to end tenancies, such as a wanting to sell the property, or a tenant’s anti-social behaviour.
– This is aimed at improving tenant security and reducing vacancy rates, whilst still giving legal grounds for eviction based on business, health and safety and personal objectives.
- – Simplified tenancy structures – All tenancies will become periodic tenancies. This means that they will be in force on a rolling monthly basis until either party (landlord or tenant) provides notice.
- – Ban on rental bidding – Making the acceptance or encouragement of offers above the advertised asking rental price will be illegal. This will create more transparency and seeks to avoid disputes due to rental prices, creating a framework for more positive relationships between tenants and landlords.
- – Rent Increases – these will be limited to only one increase every year, which must align with market rates to give tenants and prospective tenants greater financial certainty as well as giving landlords an opportunity to increase rents where appropriate, keeping up with market rates whilst avoiding a rental market bubble.
- – No discrimination for benefit recipients and tenants with children; however, landlords will still be able to carry out income checks to make sure tenants are able to afford rent.
- – EPC Requirements – New rentals must have an EPC rating of “C” and landlords may be required to update their properties to meet this rating to make for greener and more efficient homes
Want to know more about the impact on you as a landlord/tenant this Bill could have?
For professional guidance as a landlord or a tenant about the impact this Bill could have on you, contact Richard Palfreyman (rpalfreyman@fionabruce.co.uk) or Luke Hodgkinson (lhodgkinson@fionabruce.co.uk) on 01925 263273 in our Property team. Fiona Bruce Solicitors can help you understand your rights and take advantage of the latest tenancy reforms to secure your property future.
The contents of this post do not constitute legal advice and are provided for general information purposes only ■
