MAJOR CHANGES CONFIRMED FOR THE UK’S PRIVATE RENTED SECTOR
Dacre Son and Hartley created on 17th November 2025
As Yorkshire’s largest independent estate agent which also manages residential property under the Lister Haigh brand, we’ve outlined key points that both residential property landlords and tenants need to know after the government revealed how it will reform the private rented sector with the Renters’ Rights Act; with major changes coming in the spring of 2026
Key changes include outlawing no-fault evictions, which are often known as Section 21 evictions, in England from 1 May 2026. Currently a Section 21 eviction allows landlords to evict tenants without providing a specific reason or proving they have breached the tenancy agreement.
In addition, the new legislation will mark the end of fixed-term tenancy contracts, with renters moving onto rolling agreements. There will also be clearer rules for tenants that have pets, bidding wars over rents will be banned, and new protections will be introduced to prevent discrimination against tenants who receive benefits or have children.
Crucially, landlords can only raise the rent once a year to a ‘market rate’ and will have to give two months’ notice before doing so. The changes also aim to give tenants more security and empower them to challenge poor conditions without fear of immediate eviction.
Our residential lettings and property management division operates across a large swathe of West and North Yorkshire and has hundreds of potential tenants registered on its waiting list, which demonstrates the shortage of available rental property that exists locally. Services on offer to landlords include both a fully managed offering and a tenant sourcing service.
Patrick McCutcheon, head of residential said: “These significant changes to tenancy laws have been on the horizon for a long time but now we have clarification that from 1 May 2026, all new and existing private tenancies in England will move onto the new system. This means we can plan for the changes and work with our landlords and tenants to ensure they abide by the new laws and understand what they mean for them.
“Although the end of Section 21 evictions is a key focal point, it’s important to remember that landlords still have rights to evict for lots of common reasons which include wanting to move into the property themselves, if they decide to sell the property, or if the rent is unpaid, or for antisocial behaviour.”
Patrick McCutcheon added: “The Act’s remaining provisions will be introduced at later dates. In late 2026 a database of private rented sector properties will launch, which landlords will have to sign up to. This will contain key information to inform tenant choices and help landlords understand their obligations and demonstrate compliance, as well as supporting councils in targeting enforcement.
“During this phase, a Landlord Ombudsman will also be established to improve dispute resolution and help to settle issues between tenants and landlords without costly court proceedings.
“A third phase will then focus on raising standards through the extension of Awaab’s Law and implementing a modernised Decent Homes Standard, which will ensure that all rental properties meet minimum standards of quality and safety.”
Finally, Patrick said: “These changes have been described as the biggest overhaul of tenancy laws for a generation, and the industry now has six months to prepare for them. Crucially, landlords must not fall foul of the new laws, and this means using a reputable letting agent that has a thorough understanding of what is required. We would urge anyone who is unsure about what the changes mean for them to contact us now.”
To help you understand these changes, we’ve put together the following factsheet:
One of Yorkshire’s most established estate agents, we’ve been providing expert residential sales and lettings services for over 200 years. Our property advice is built on sound local knowledge and our outstanding professional team, complimented and enhanced by cutting-edge technology. We pride ourselves on delivering personalised, reliable service across our network of 18 Yorkshire offices.
