It’s hard to believe that the Renters’ Rights Act has now been in operation for several months, bringing some of the biggest changes to the private rented sector in England for decades.

When the reforms were first announced, there was understandably a lot of uncertainty among landlords, tenants and letting agents. Questions about tenancy agreements, possession, rent increases and the end of Section 21 notices were all high on the agenda.  However, from our experience, the transition has been remarkably smooth.

A major change to the private rented sector

The first major phase of the Renters’ Rights Act came into effect on 1 May 2026, introducing significant changes to the way private rented properties are let and managed.  Among the key changes are the abolition of Section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions and the move away from fixed-term Assured Shorthold Tenancies towards assured periodic tenancies.  There have also been important changes around rent increases, pets, discrimination and the grounds available to landlords when possession of a property is genuinely required.  For landlords who have relied on professional letting and property management services, much of the work involved in adapting to these changes has taken place behind the scenes.

Preparation has been key

As a letting agent, we knew that good preparation would be essential.  We reviewed our processes, updated our documentation and ensured that our landlords were kept informed about what the changes meant for their individual properties.  We have also continued to monitor the Government's guidance as further details and regulations have been introduced.  The result? For our landlords and tenants, the transition has been very much business as usual.  There has been no need for our clients to navigate these changes alone. Our role is to understand the legislation, keep up with the latest requirements and make sure the correct procedures are followed.

What does this mean for landlords?

Although the new legislation provides tenants with greater security, landlords still have routes to regain possession of their property where there is a legitimate reason to do so.  The key difference is that landlords now need to ensure they are using the correct possession grounds and following the correct process.  This makes professional advice and good property management more important than ever.  Our message to landlords is simple: don't be put off by the changes.  The private rented sector is evolving, but with the right systems and professional support, managing a rental property can continue to be straightforward.

And for tenants?

For tenants, the reforms provide greater security and clarity around their rights.  Existing assured shorthold tenancies moved to the new assured periodic tenancy system from 1 May 2026, while tenants have also gained additional protections in areas such as rent increases and discrimination.  We believe that a good rental relationship benefits everyone. Clear communication between landlord, agent and tenant remains at the heart of a successful tenancy.

Smooth sailing so far

Perhaps the biggest takeaway for us is that, despite the scale of the changes, the transition has been smooth sailing.  There has understandably been a lot of discussion and sometimes confusion surrounding the Renters’ Rights Act, but our experience demonstrates that with preparation, good systems and professional management, the changes don't need to be daunting.  There are still further stages of the Renters’ Rights Act to come, including the introduction of the new Private Rented Sector Database and Landlord Ombudsman, with further reforms planned beyond that.  We’ll continue to keep our landlords and tenants informed as these developments take place.

If you’re a landlord and you’re unsure how the Renters’ Rights Act affects your property, get in touch with our team. We’re here to make sure you stay compliant, informed and, most importantly, stress-free.