Hub · updated as the law moves
Renters' Rights Act 2025
Section 21 is gone, tenancies are periodic, and a national landlord register is coming. This hub collects the key dates, the new duties, our in-depth guides and free tools - one page to check instead of a dozen. See the PRS Database page for whether registration has actually opened.
The dates that matter
1 May 2026 - Commencement dayIn force
Section 21 'no-fault' evictions abolished - possession now runs through Section 8 grounds only. All assured shorthold tenancies convert to rolling periodic tenancies. Rent in advance capped at one month. Bidding wars banned. Tenants gain the right to request a pet.
31 May 2026 - Info sheet deadlineIn force
The deadline for giving existing written tenancies the official Renters' Rights information sheet. It has passed. Tenancies created after 1 May 2026 are not given the sheet - they need the key terms in writing before the tenancy is agreed.
Late 2026 - PRS Database opens
Mandatory registration of landlords and properties on the Private Rented Sector Database. Registration requires property details and current safety certificates - gather them before the portal opens. Track which English regions have commenced on the PRS Database page.
1 October 2030 - MEES Band C (related deadline)
Not part of the Act itself, but the next big statutory date on the same compliance calendar: privately rented homes in England and Wales must reach EPC Band C.
What landlords and agents must do now
Put the key terms in writing
Tenancies agreed after 1 May 2026 need written information about the key terms before you sign or agree. That can be the tenancy agreement itself. The official information sheet was only for existing written tenancies, and that deadline has passed.
Get PRS Database-ready
Registration needs property details plus valid gas, electrical and energy certificates. Expired certificates block registration, so renewals now have a second deadline behind them.
Keep Section 8 evidence clean
With Section 21 gone, possession depends on proving grounds - arrears records, served documents and certificate history all need to be organised and tamper-proof.
Handle periodic tenancies and rent rises lawfully
Fixed terms are gone and rent increases now run through the statutory Section 13 route - once per year with proper notice on the prescribed form.
In-depth guides
Written for the rules as they stand now, with dates and sources.
The complete guide
The Renters' Rights Act: The Ultimate Guide for Landlords & Letting Agents (2026)
What the Renters' Rights Act is, when it comes into force, the phased 2026 rollout, and every change - Section 21, periodic tenancies, the bidding ban and the fines for getting it wrong. The complete guide.
Renters' Rights Act
How to Transition from ASTs to Assured Periodic Tenancies
ASTs are gone. Here's how fixed terms convert to rolling periodic assured tenancies, what you must serve to tenants, and how possession and rent work afterwards.
Renters' Rights Act
What Letting Agents Need to Know About the Rental Bidding Ban
Advertise a rent, and never invite or accept a higher offer. What the rental bidding ban means for agents - in your listings, viewings, offer handling and rent-in-advance rules.
Renters' Rights Act
How to Issue a Valid Section 8 Notice Under the New Rules
Section 21 is gone, so every possession claim now runs through Section 8. How to choose the right ground, give the correct notice period, and avoid the mistakes that get a notice thrown out.
Renters' Rights Act
The Renters' Rights Act 2025 Explained: A Landlord's Checklist
Section 21 is going, fixed terms are ending, and bidding wars are banned. A plain-English summary of the Renters' Rights Act 2025 and what to do now.
Free tools for the new rules
- PRS Database - is registration open yet, and who must register?
- Compliance score checker - see where one property stands in a minute
- Certificate renewal calculator - the certificates the PRS Database will ask for
- Deposit deadline calculator - unprotected deposits still block possession
- MEES 2030 checker - the next deadline after this one
General information, not legal advice. Dates and duties reflect the position in 2026 - confirm against the current GOV.UK or legislation.gov.uk source before acting.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Renters' Rights Act 2025?
The Renters' Rights Act 2025 is the largest reform of the English private rented sector in decades. From 1 May 2026 it abolished Section 21 'no-fault' evictions, converted all assured shorthold tenancies to rolling periodic tenancies, capped rent in advance at one month, banned bidding wars, and gave tenants the right to request a pet. Landlords with a written tenancy already in place had to give the official information sheet by 31 May 2026. That deadline has passed, and new tenancies are not given the sheet.
Is Section 21 gone completely?
Yes - from 1 May 2026 new Section 21 notices cannot be served. Only notices validly served before that date retain transitional effect for a limited period. Possession now proceeds through Section 8, which requires proving a statutory ground such as rent arrears, sale, or the landlord moving in.
What is the PRS Database and when must I register?
The Private Rented Sector Database (also called the Property Portal) is a mandatory national register of landlords and rental properties created by the Act, expected to open for registration in late 2026. Registration will require property details and current safety certificates. Vantage generates a registration data pack from your existing property and compliance data, with a readiness score and gap list.
Does the Renters' Rights Act apply in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland?
The Act applies to England. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own private rented sector regimes (including Rent Smart Wales and Scottish landlord registration), which Vantage also tracks - each property is configured to its jurisdiction.
What should landlords do right now?
Get certificates (gas, EICR, EPC) current so PRS Database registration isn't blocked when it opens, and make sure rent and document records are clean enough to support a Section 8 claim if one is ever needed. New tenancies need their key terms in writing before they are agreed.
Vantage guides you through all these obligations, with court-ready proof.
Vantage gives every property a 0–100 compliance score, recommends and guides actions by priority, and reminds you before each obligation is due. Start with a 14-day free trial, then just £0.80 per property per month.