Section 21 is now abolished. The Renters’ Rights Act is law. See what changed →
NOW IN FORCERenters' Rights Act 2025

The biggest shake-up
in private renting
in 30 years.

The Renters' Rights Act is now law. Section 21 is abolished. Periodic tenancies are the default. The rules have changed fundamentally — and every landlord in England needs to understand what that means for their property.

The Act fundamentally restructures the private rented sector. These aren't minor amendments — they change how you let, manage, and recover your property.

Abolished

Section 21 — gone.

No-fault evictions are abolished. You can no longer ask a tenant to leave simply because you want to end the tenancy. Every eviction now requires a legally valid reason and proper evidence.

New Default

Periodic tenancies only.

Fixed-term tenancies are effectively abolished for new tenancies. All tenancies are periodic from day one — rolling monthly agreements with no set end date. Tenants can leave with two months' notice; landlords must use valid grounds.

Tightened

Section 8 — stricter grounds.

Possession via Section 8 now demands stronger evidence and stricter procedural compliance. A missed certificate, an incorrectly served notice, or an outdated document can invalidate your entire claim.

Now Applies

Decent Homes Standard.

The Decent Homes Standard — previously only applying to social housing — now applies to the private rented sector. Properties must meet minimum habitability criteria. Councils can issue improvement notices and civil penalties.

Coming Soon

Private Rented Sector Database.

A national register of landlords and rental properties is being introduced. Landlords will need to register before letting. Failure to register will attract penalties and could prevent you from legally letting your property.

New Protection

Rent increase rules tightened.

Landlords can only increase rent once per year, using the Section 13 process with two months' written notice. Tenants can challenge increases at a First-tier Tribunal, which can cap the rise.

The Newgen Advantage

Why we're the solution to the Renters' Rights Act — not just another agent.

Most agents can only advise you on the new rules. We can actually solve the problem they create.

Under Section 21, getting your property back was straightforward. Under the Renters' Rights Act, it isn't — possession via Section 8 takes months, costs money, and isn't guaranteed.

But because Newgen manages a wide portfolio of properties across London and Essex, we have something no single-property landlord has: options. If you genuinely need your property back, we can proactively explore relocating your tenant to a suitable alternative property within our portfolio.

No court. No months of waiting. A professional, managed transition that works for everyone — and gets you your property back.

Portfolio-wide flexibility

We manage properties across London and Essex. That means if a tenant needs to move, we can often find them a suitable alternative — making relocation realistic rather than theoretical.

No adversarial eviction

A cooperative relocation avoids the courts entirely — no legal fees, no 6–12 month wait, no uncertainty. Better for the tenant, resolved for you.

Weeks, not months

Court-based Section 8 possession typically takes 6–12 months. A managed relocation can be completed in weeks — with the right portfolio access and tenant relationship.

Want to know if this applies to your situation?

Get in touch directly →

Timeline

What's in force now,
and what's coming.

1 May 2026
Section 21
Abolished
No-fault evictions gone. Every eviction now needs a legal ground.
1 May 2026
Periodic
Tenancies
All new tenancies are periodic. No more fixed terms.
1 May 2026
Decent Homes
Standard
Private rentals must meet minimum habitability standards.
2026 – 27
PRS Database
Launches
Landlords must register properties. No registration = cannot legally let.
2028 (proposed)
Minimum EPC
C Rating
Properties below C may not be lettable for new tenancies. Plan upgrades now.
In force now
Coming soon
Proposed

What it means for you

If I want to sell or move back in — can I still evict?

Yes — but you now need to use specific Section 8 grounds, give the right notice period, and have your paperwork airtight. Here are the most common situations landlords ask us about.

Yes, under Ground 1A (landlord intending to sell). You must give at least four months' notice and have a genuine intention to sell. You cannot re-let the property within three months of the tenant leaving under this ground. All certificates must be valid and notices correctly served — one error can invalidate the claim.
You can still serve a Section 8 notice under Ground 8 (mandatory) when rent is at least two months in arrears. Ground 8 remains mandatory, meaning the court must grant possession if the arrears threshold is met and all paperwork is correct. However, procedural errors — including invalid certificates — can block the claim. Under our guaranteed rent scheme, this risk is entirely ours, not yours.
Ground 1 (landlord or close family member intending to occupy) allows you to reclaim the property with four months' notice. You must genuinely intend to occupy the property — misuse of this ground can result in significant penalties. Legal advice is recommended before proceeding.
Tenants must give two months' written notice to end a periodic tenancy. They cannot leave before they've been in the property for four months (an implicit minimum term protection for landlords under the Act). So you're guaranteed at least four months at the start of any tenancy.
Under Newgen's guaranteed rent scheme, we become your tenant under a formal lease agreement — you're not managing individual tenants at all. The Renters' Rights Act primarily governs the relationship between landlords and residential tenants; our commercial lease arrangement operates differently. This is one of the reasons many landlords are moving to guaranteed rent — it removes the compliance complexity at source.
Under the new rules, a lapsed gas safety certificate, an unsigned tenancy agreement, or a missing How to Rent guide can invalidate a Section 8 notice. The court will not grant possession until the error is corrected and a fresh notice is served — adding months to the process. We track all certificate expiry dates for every managed property to ensure this never happens.

Take action

Don't let the new rules
catch you off guard.

The Act is in force now. If your property isn't compliant — certificates, notices, tenancy documents — you could already be exposed. We'll check through everything for you.

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