Colin Joseph of Citizens Advice Barnet on the impact of last week’s changes in housing law

The shopfront of a letting agency with images of available properties in the window. — A letting agency window – Hamptonsinternational, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Key sections of the Renters’ Rights Act became law on Friday (1st May) as part of the government’s commitment to give private renters stronger protections and greater security in their homes.

The changes cover the private rented sector in England and are the most significant housing reform there has been since the Housing Act 1988.

Landlords are now subject to greater regulation and constraints in the way they operate privately rented assets and face tough sanctions and criminal liability for non-compliance.

The government hopes that the new changes to private renting will improve the current system for private renters in England and give renters much greater security and stability so they can stay in their homes for longer, build lives in their communities, and avoid the risk of homelessness.

Recent research by Citizens Advice Barnet shows that problems with the private rented sector are by far the most common housing issue that we help people with in the borough and made up around 28% of all housing issues for 2025. The types of private sector housing problems that people come to us for help with include rent increases, tenancy agreements, disrepair and maintenance problems and disrepair and mould issues.

We expect that the changes to the private rented sector introduced by the government will help many of our clients with the types of problems they often come to us for help with and could mean that we record fewer problems with private sector housing in the future.

Key provisions of the Renters’ Rights Bill which have just become law, include:

Abolition of Section 21 “no-fault” evictions: Landlords will no longer be able to evict tenants without a legally specified reason.
Move to periodic tenancies: All tenancies will be open-ended, shifting automatically to a rolling monthly contract after any initial fixed term ends. Tenants will need to provide two months’ notice to end the tenancy.
Rent increase protections: Rent can be increased only once per year, and landlords must give two months’ notice. Tenants will have the right to challenge excessive rent increases at a First-tier Tribunal, though the increase will not be backdated if the landlord’s case is upheld. Landlords will also be banned from charging more than one month’s rent upfront.
Bidding wars banned: It will be a legal offence for landlords or agents to invite, encourage or accept offers above the advertised rent.
UK-wide anti-discrimination laws: It will be illegal to refuse a tenancy because someone has children or receives benefits.

Other significant changes for landlords and tenants will be introduced later. These will include an online register of all landlords and rental properties in England, so you can check who you’re renting from as well as a private landlord ombudsman which will be launched to help renters sort complaints against landlords quickly and fairly – without needing to go to court.

The government is also set to introduce a decent homes standard for privately rented homes which will set out the rules for making sure every rented property is safe, warm and in good repair.

The new rules will raise the standard of rented homes – tackling damp, mould and dangerous conditions, ensuring that landlords fix serious hazards faster and also make homes more energy efficient.

Citizens Advice Barnet welcomes these changes to the private rented sector and hope that they will offer stronger protections for privately renting tenants who have often been left short-changed by unscrupulous landlords.

Colin Joseph is a research and campaigns volunteer at Citizens Advice Barnet

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