Renters’ Rights Act: the new rules for private renting
The government’s roadmap set 1 May 2026 as the start of the first phase. In that phase, section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions are abolished and most new and existing private tenancies become Assured Periodic Tenancies. The roadmap says a PRS Database for landlords and a Landlord Ombudsman come next, from late 2026. Signing up to the database will be mandatory for private landlords, with an annual fee to be confirmed closer to launch.
Source: Implementing the Renters' Rights Act 2025: Our roadmap for reforming the Private Rented Sector · Updated 6 November 2026
Energy rules: EPC C standard by 1 October 2030
The government has set out its decisions on raising the minimum energy standard for privately rented homes in England and Wales to the equivalent of EPC C. Its response sets a single compliance date of 1 October 2030 and raises the cost cap to £10,000. It says new powers will be brought in by an Act of Parliament, aiming for the updated rules to come into force in 2027.
Source: Improving the energy performance of privately rented homes: 2025 update · Updated 6 November 2026
Deposits: protect them within 30 days
If you take a deposit on an assured periodic tenancy, it must go into a government-approved tenancy deposit scheme within 30 days of you getting it. The schemes in England and Wales are the Deposit Protection Service, MyDeposits and the Tenancy Deposit Scheme. At the end of the tenancy, the deposit must be returned within 10 days of you and the tenant agreeing how much they get back.
Source: Tenancy deposit protection: Overview · Updated 6 November 2026
Right to rent: check every adult tenant
Before a new tenancy starts in England, you must check that all tenants aged 18 and over can legally rent, even if they are not named on the tenancy agreement. You must check all new tenants, not only people you think are not British citizens. If a tenant only has permission to stay in the UK for a limited time, do the check in the 28 days before the tenancy starts.
Source: Checking your tenant's right to rent: Who you have to check · Updated 6 November 2026
General information, not legal advice. Rules can change, so check the source before acting. Questions? Speak to us.
