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When did the Renters' Rights Act come into force?
By the VoxaMTD team. Last verified 31 October 2026
Most of the Renters' Rights Act took effect in England on 1 May 2026. That date covered the end of Section 21, periodic tenancies, new possession grounds, once a year rent increases, the ban on rental bidding and the right to request a pet. Other parts are phased in later.
GOV.UK's roadmap says council investigatory powers started earlier, on 27 December 2025. The social rented sector was not covered at first. The PRS database is the next stage: registration begins from 15 December 2026 in the West Midlands, with other areas over 12 months, and every landlord actively letting must be registered by 14 November 2027.
The Private Rented Sector Landlord Ombudsman comes after the database, and the roadmap's annex gives 2028 for membership. The government confirmed on 28 January 2026 that the new Decent Homes Standard will apply from 2035 in both the social and private rented sectors. Awaab's Law for private rentals has no date yet. If you are planning around a date, use GOV.UK rather than a trade-body summary, and check it again before you act.
Read next
Sources
- GOV.UK: Implementing the Renters' Rights Act 2025: Our roadmap for reforming the Private Rented Sector
- GOV.UK: Renters' Rights Act: an overview for landlords
- GOV.UK: Stronger protections and greater confidence for renters
- GOV.UK: Consultation on a reformed Decent Homes Standard: government response