Renters’ Rights Act 2025: What it means for tenants
If you rent your home privately in Newham, the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 will change some of your rights from 1 May 2026.
This guide explains what’s different and how it may affect you.
| Before 1 May 2026 | After 1 May 2026 |
|---|---|
| Landlords can evict tenants without giving a reason, even before the end of a tenancy. | ‘No-fault’ evictions (Section 21) are banned. Landlords must have a valid legal reason to evict a tenant. |
| Most tenancies are for a fixed time, usually 6 or 12 months, with an end date. | All tenancies become rolling (periodic), so they do not have a fixed end date. |
| Tenants are often tied into a fixed term and may have to wait until it ends or pay to leave early. | Tenants can leave at any time by giving 2 months’ notice. |
| Rent can be increased more than once a year, and tenants may be threatened with eviction if they challenge it. | Rent can only be increased once a year and must follow a legal process (Section 13 notice). |
| If tenants challenge a rent increase, the rent could be set even higher and backdated. | If tenants challenge a rent increase, it cannot be set higher than what the landlord asked for, and it only starts from the decision date. |
| Landlords can accept offers higher than the advertised rent (bidding wars). | Rental bidding wars are banned. Landlords cannot ask for or accept more than the advertised rent. |
| Landlords can ask for several months’ rent in advance. | Landlords can only ask for up to 1 month’s rent in advance. |
| Landlords can refuse tenants who have children or receive benefits. | It is illegal to refuse tenants because they have children or receive benefits. |
| Landlords can refuse requests to keep a pet. | Tenants have the right to ask for a pet. Landlords must consider the request fairly. |
| There are limited consequences if landlords misuse eviction rules. | Stronger rules apply. Tenants may get money back if landlords break eviction rules, such as re-letting the home too soon. |
