Renters Rights' Hub

The rental market is evolving rapidly, and keeping up with new legislation isn’t optional – it’s essential. Here at Oakmans, we’re being asked a lot of questions by our landlords. Has the Renters’ Rights Act been passed yet? What is the Renters’ Rights Act? What changes will it bring, and who will they impact?

We have been closely monitoring the rollout of the Renters’ Rights Act and have waited until the final details were confirmed before providing guidance. This legislation represents one of the most significant changes to the lettings and property management sector in decades. It introduces fundamental changes to tenancy structures, possession processes, and day-to-day property management.

Let’s take a look at what action you as a landlord can take, and how we can help.

The Renters’ Reform Bill was introduced under the previous government, but as it wasn’t far enough along in the process to be agreed by both parties, it didn’t complete its journey through parliament. The Renters’ Rights Act shares some similarities, including plans to abolish Section 21 and fixed-term tenancies. The key difference is that the Renters’ Rights Act has now passed into law, although it is not yet fully in force.

Reviewing your Portfolio

With changes ahead, now is a good time to take a step back and review your rental properties, particularly if you manage a portfolio or HMOs.

At Oakmans, we recommend considering:

• Are all legal requirements currently being met?
• Do all tenants have a clear, written tenancy agreement in place?
• Will your current rental income comfortably cover any increased compliance costs?
• Are your rental values in line with the current market?
• Are tenants adhering to the terms of their agreements?
• Are communications with tenants clearly recorded and stored?

Inspecting your Properties

Regular inspections remain key to protecting your investment and maintaining standards across your properties.

It’s worth thinking about:

• When your last inspection was carried out
• Whether you have a reliable network of tradespeople
• Whether there is a clear process for handling maintenance, hazards or complaints

Complaint Landlord Process

As legislation evolves, having clear and consistent processes in place will be increasingly important.

We advise reviewing:

• Whether your property adverts are clear, fair and compliant
• Your approach to rent setting and increases
• How tenant queries, concerns and complaints are recorded and managed

Working with Oakmans

Our role is to ensure your property is managed in line with the latest requirements, while keeping the process straightforward for both landlords and tenants.

We focus on:

• Keeping property marketing aligned with current standards
• Maintaining clear records of all tenant communication
• Managing a smooth and compliant tenancy process
• Keeping landlords informed of any relevant legislative updates

The Act received Royal Assent on 27 October 2025, meaning it is now law, although it does not apply in full straight away.

The Renters’ Rights Act will be introduced in stages, with the first changes expected from 1 May 2026. From that point:

• Fixed-term tenancies will be removed
• Written tenancy information will be required
• Rent increases will be limited to once per year
• Section 21 notices will be abolished
• Restrictions on rent collection timing
• Rental bidding will be banned
• Stronger protections against discrimination

However, that’s not the only date currently confirmed. The Government has published a timeline setting out additional key stages for the Renters’ Rights Act.

Further details are expected as the rollout continues, and we’ll keep our landlords updated as more information becomes available.