THE EXACT dates landlords will no longer be able to boot renters from the homes for “no fault” has been revealed.
It is part of some sweeping changes the government is introducing to give renters more rights.
New measures of the Renters’ Rights Act are set to come into effect from May 1, 2026, ministers have announced.
Evicting tenants without reason, as well as increasing rent more than once a year, will be among the practices outlawed under new policies.
They will also set out a timeline for its implementation on Friday, which will give landlords and letting agents time to review the proposed changes for their tenants.
Section 21 “no-fault” evictions will be among the practices outlawed through the new Act.
It comes after more than 11,400 repossessions from Section 21 notices were reported to have occurred last year.
This was an increase from 10,576 from the previous 12 months.
One included a family with four children, who were evicted right before Christmas, which The Sun reported in April.
The issues for Trevor and Tnaesha Twohig, who were living in Kent, started after their landlord asked for an increase in rent of £200 a month – from £1,550 to £1,750.
Housing Secretary Steve Reed has now said: “We’re calling time on no-fault evictions and rogue landlords.”
He added: “Everyone should have peace of mind and the security of a roof over their head – the law we’ve just passed delivers that.
“We’re now on a countdown of just months to that law coming in – so good landlords can get ready and bad landlords should clean up their act.”
This move hopes to ensure landlords will stop discriminating against tenants for things like being on benefits or having children.
Landlords will also not be able to unreasonably refuse requests from their tenants to own pets.
The Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government (MHCLG) has also been keen to insist landlords will have stronger reasons for getting their properties back when needed from the Act.
It will therefore not only bolster legal protections for tenants, but also help landlords if they want to sell up, or if tenants are in arrears or engaging in anti-social behaviour.
Sir Keir Starmer has suggested that the majority of landlords are reasonable and respectable.
In exclusive interview, he told the Big Issue magazine: “Of course, the vast majority of landlords are respectable and reasonable, treating their tenants well and providing an important service.
“But it’s about time that we rebalanced the system to give renters more rights and more power in their homes. That’s exactly what this Act does.
“This generational uplift in renters’ rights is about putting more power into the hands of people who have had to stand for unfair behaviour for too long.
“By giving renters the rights, security and protections they deserve we’ll be able to prevent homelessness, put an end to unsafe housing and make sure people can live with dignity and without fear for the future.”
Further measures from the Act will be implemented through two following phases, the MHCLG has indicated.
In the second phase, there will be a new private landlord ombudsman introduced to resolve complaints from tenants.
This will mean they will not need to go to court to raise issues that a landlord has not addressed.
Also included will be the roll out in late 2026 of a database which will include private landlords and their properties.
Then as part of the third phase of the Act’s implementation will be further measures to ensure private rented homes are of good condition.
Rental rights campaigners have welcomed the news of changes to the Act.
Ben Twomey, chief executive of Generation Rent, described it as a “vital step towards re-balancing power between renters and landlords” and said it “should be celebrated”.
Tom Darling, director of the Renters’ Reform Coalition, said: “Today’s announcement that the end of section 21 evictions will come into force on May 1 is huge news for England’s 12 million renters.
“We have fought for this day for so long and to now have certainty about when the last ‘no-fault’ eviction will be is crucial for our members, who will be trying to ensure as many renters as possible are aware of their new rights.”
Sarah Elliott, chief executive of housing and homelessness charity Shelter, added: “For too long, renters have lived under the constant threat of no-fault evictions. Families have been torn from their communities, with record numbers pushed into homelessness.
“Too many have been silenced about discrimination and unsafe conditions. Today we celebrate that their voices have finally been heard, and change is on the way.
“But renters must understand that their rights will not change today. The current system remains in place until the new rights come into force from May 1 2026. Until then, we stand ready to support renters and help them understand the vital changes the Act will introduce.”
However, chief executive of the National Residential Landlords Association, Ben Beadle, raised his concerns around the deadline.
“We have argued consistently that landlords and property businesses need at least six months from the publication of regulations to ensure the sector is properly prepared for the biggest changes it has faced for over 40 years.
“Unless the Government urgently publishes all the guidance documents and written material needed to update tenancy agreements to reflect the changes to come, the plan will prove less a roadmap and more a path to inevitable failure.
“Without this landlords, tenants, agents, councils and the courts will be left without the information required to adapt, creating utter confusion at the very moment clarity is most needed.”
