Renters’ Right Act – Changes for Tenants
The new Renter’s Rights Act will mean changes for tenants from 1st May 2026.
Some of the new rules will be different depending on the type of property you live or are going to be living in. Find out more about how the changes will affect living in or .
However, if you are living in private accommodation arranged through a landlord or letting agent, these are the key things to be aware of:
- Changes will apply from 1st May 2026. Your landlord or letting agent must give you a government-produced Information sheet by 31st May 2026 which explains these changes but you can also read the on the Unipol website.
- The types of tenancy are changing, so there will no longer be fixed term tenancies and instead tenancies will not have a set end date. Find out more on the or .
- The new changes will apply to your current tenancy after 1st May and also to any future new tenancies that you sign.
- How your tenancy ends will change, both from a tenant and landlord perspective. Find out about and also the in place for this year.
- If you are already a tenant renting from a private landlord or letting agent before 1st May 2026, you may also receive what is called a ‘Section 21 notice’. Find out more about what this means on the . If you get served with a Section 21 notice you might want to seek advice from the or .
- Payments will change from 1st May 2026, so you will be required to pay your rent monthly and a landlord or letting agent cannot ask for more than 1 month’s rent in advance of a new tenancy starting. Find out more about payment changes on the or .