Legal News | 16.04.25

Renters’ Rights – what you need to know

Major updates to the Renters’ Rights Bill (“the Bill”) are reshaping the UK rental landscape and both landlords and tenants need to prepare for it coming into law. After significant debate and revision, the Bill is now entering its final stages in Parliament, with full implementation expected in October 2025.

Since our last newsletter Renters’ Rights – what to expect in January 2025, there have been a series of important updates. These updates are set out below:

Passed the third reading

On 14 January 2025, the Bill passed the report stage and third reading in the House of Commons. The key amendments included:

• The Guarantor Reform – Guarantors will no longer be liable for rent after a tenant’s death.
• Rent in Advance Restrictions – New limits will prevent excessive upfront rental demands.

Local Authority Powers enhanced

In March, the government introduced provisions into the Bill giving local councils greater teeth to enforce the law. Councils will now be able to fine landlords up to £7,000 for serious breaches, and a push for cross-boundary cooperation will make it easier for tenants to report issues, regardless of where they live. Serious breaches can include:

• Failing to provide the tenant with tenancy terms in written form – currently, landlords are required to provide tenants with the How to Rent guide at the start of a new tenancy. Failure to provide this can impact a landlord’s ability to use a Section 21 eviction notice. The current civil penalties associated with this are subject to change.
• Failing to state the proposed rent – landlords will no longer be able to advertise or offer a proposed letting in writing without stating the exact proposed rent amount.
• Breaching prohibition of rental bidding rule – this will prohibit rental bidding, ensuring that the advertised rent is the final price.
• Asking for or accepting pre-tenancy rent payment – accepting rent for a tenancy before it commences will be prohibited.
• Discrimination in tenant selection – it will be illegal for landlords to discriminate against tenants who receive benefits or those with children when choosing who to let their property to.

The implementation timeline confirmed

Housing Minister Tracy Adams has now confirmed the October 2025 launch for the Bill to become law, allowing time for all stakeholders to prepare and comply.

What does this mean for tenants?

Tenants will be offered more security and will no longer be able to be evicted without a cause under Section 21. Tenants should also have improved living conditions; this is because landlords will now be required to meet minimum property standards to risk penalties. There will also be new limits on rent payments in advance, which could reduce the initial move-in expense and lower upfront costs. With changes to local authority powers, greater support should be available, and routes for reporting problems will become readily available.

What does this mean for landlords?

Landlords will now have greater responsibility and will need to maintain higher property standards and justify evictions through the new Section 8 grounds. Once the Bill comes into force, there will be less flexibility to end tenancies, and valid reasons in line with the grounds for possession will need to be proved. There will now be a higher standard of compliance required and if landlords do not meet these requirements then the council could give out fines of up to £7,000.

If you would like further guidance on any aspect of this Bill, please contact Melissa Meredith in our Dispute Resolution team at melissa.meredith@wansbroughs.com | 01380 733300.