News from 14 March 2026
Read the current guide to tenancy rules in England.
Update, 7 September 2026. England’s main assured-tenancy reforms took effect on 1 May 2026. This March article is retained as news from before commencement. For current requirements, use the landlord guide to the rules now in force.
The government announced 1 May 2026 as the start date for the first major phase of England’s Renters’ Rights reforms. This March report describes the timetable before the changes took effect.
What has happened
The government has published an implementation timeline for the Renters’ Rights Act, with the first phase set to begin on 1 May 2026. From then, renters in England will gain a new package of protections, while landlords and agents will be expected to work within a different legal framework for possession, rent setting and tenancy practice.
According to the government’s announcement, landlords will still be able to recover properties where legally valid grounds apply, including circumstances such as selling, moving in, rent arrears or anti-social behaviour. But the old Section 21 route is due to end, and councils will also take on a stronger enforcement role from May.
The wider roadmap matters too. Later phases are expected to introduce the Private Landlord Ombudsman and a Private Rented Sector Database, while future consultations are set to shape further changes around housing conditions, Awaab’s Law and the Decent Homes Standard in the private rented sector.
