Renters' Rights Act (Simplified)

Most landlords think the Renters Reform Bill is about stopping evictions. It isn’t. It’s about redefining what it means to be a landlord.

For years, renting was treated as a private deal between two people. The government is now turning it into a regulated service. That shift matters more than any single rule in the bill.

What’s Happening and Why It Matters

The Renters Reform Bill changes how every tenancy in England works. It removes the old shortcuts and forces the system to operate in a single, structured way.

It will likely come into force by 2026. It affects anyone who rents out property, whether you manage one flat or a hundred.

The main goals are simple: make renting more secure for tenants and more accountable for landlords. The result is more paperwork, more consistency, and fewer surprises.

Key Changes You Need to Know

Section 21 ends You can no longer remove a tenant without a valid reason. The “no-fault” eviction system is being scrapped. If you need to take back possession, you’ll have to prove a ground such as selling, moving in yourself, or repeated rent arrears.

Rolling tenancies replace fixed terms All new tenancies will move to a periodic model. Instead of a 6- or 12-month contract, the tenancy continues until either side gives notice. That gives tenants stability but reduces the predictability landlords are used to.

A national landlord register and minimum housing standards Every landlord will need to register and meet a single “decent homes” standard. The government wants every rented home to meet basic safety, quality, and comfort levels. Compliance will become visible and enforceable.

What It Means for You

This bill changes three things that matter: control, certainty, and admin.

You’ll have less control over timing, since ending a tenancy will take longer and require evidence. You’ll have less certainty over cash flow if you rely on fixed terms. And you’ll have more admin, since every property must be logged, updated, and proven compliant.

The temptation is to see all of this as loss. But there’s another way to view it. The sector is becoming professionalised. Those who adapt fastest will have a long-term advantage because compliance itself becomes a moat.

How to Prepare

Start by updating your tenancy agreements. Remove fixed terms and ensure your clauses align with the new grounds for possession and rent review rules.

Build a simple compliance checklist for each property: gas and electrical safety, EPC rating, deposit protection, and maintenance logs. Keep it in one place and keep it current.

If you use agents, confirm they understand the bill and are adjusting their templates. If you self-manage, start using systems that automate record keeping and reminders. The key is to move from reactive to systematic management.

The Risk of Doing Nothing

The biggest risk isn’t a fine. It’s being left behind. The market will reward landlords who can show they are compliant, responsive, and transparent. Those who don’t adapt will spend more time firefighting and less time earning.

The reality is that property management is becoming data-driven. You’ll need to know, at any point, that every property is legally sound, every rent review is justified, and every record is in order.

That’s why platforms like Letted exist. It’s built to make you compliant by default — automatically tracking certificates, updating tenancy documents, and managing rent reviews. It even searches your local market to identify comparable properties, helping you raise rents fairly and within the rules.

Regulation is not the enemy of profit. Poor systems are. The landlords who win under the Renters Reform Bill will be the ones who treat their rentals like a business, not a side hustle.