Renters' Rights Act checker
The biggest change to English renting in 40 years went live on 1 May 2026: Section 21 is gone, every tenancy is periodic, and the fines run to £40,000. Answer the questions below and get a personalised action list with the deadlines that apply to you.
Rules checked against gov.uk sources, July 2026. England only.
What actually changed on 1 May 2026: no-fault (Section 21) evictions abolished, all tenancies became periodic, rent rises limited to once a year via Section 13, rent in advance capped at one month, rental bidding banned, and blanket bans on benefits claimants or children made unlawful. The landlord database opens region by region from December 2026, and the ombudsman is expected in 2028.
The full plain-English detail, with sources: the Renters' Rights Act guide and every certificate a landlord legally needs.