Renters' Rights Act 2025: what landlords in England need to do

The Renters' Rights Act 2025 is the biggest change to renting in England in a generation. If you let a property, it changes how tenancies work, how you can end them, and how you are expected to keep records. Here is a plain-English summary of what is changing and what it means for your day-to-day admin. Some measures commence in stages, so always check the current position on GOV.UK for the dates that apply to you.

The end of Section 21

The headline change is the removal of Section 21, the "no-fault" route that let landlords end a tenancy without giving a reason. Once this change has commenced, ending a tenancy is expected to rely on a valid ground under Section 8, supported by evidence and the correct notice. That makes your paperwork and your records more important than before, because they are the kind of thing a possession case can turn on. Check GOV.UK for the date this applies from.

Periodic tenancies replace fixed terms

Assured shorthold tenancies with a fixed term are due to be replaced by rolling, periodic tenancies. In practice that would mean tenancies continue month to month rather than for a set term, with tenants able to end the tenancy by giving notice and landlords using the grounds for possession where they apply. It is a shift from "the term ends on this date" to "the tenancy continues until one side ends it properly". The exact structure and timing are set out in the legislation and guidance, so check the current position on GOV.UK.

Rent increases and the grounds for possession

Rent increases are due to be limited to once a year and to follow a set statutory process, with tenants able to challenge an increase at the First-tier Tribunal. The grounds landlords can use to seek possession, such as selling the property or moving in a family member, are being reshaped with their own notice periods and evidence requirements. Existing tenancies and any contractual terms can interact differently, so the common-sense takeaway is the same: keep clear records and serve the right notice in the right way, and check the detail before you rely on it.

A new database and an Ombudsman

The Act introduces a Private Rented Sector Database, where landlords and their properties are expected to be registered, and a landlord redress scheme (an Ombudsman) that most landlords are expected to be required to join, subject to any exemptions. There are also wider changes, including extending the Decent Homes Standard to private rented homes, new timescales for dealing with serious hazards, a ban on inviting offers above the advertised rent, and stronger protections against blanket bans on tenants with children or on benefits. These measures come into force in stages, so check GOV.UK for the commencement date and detail of each one.

Why your records matter more than ever

As Section 21 is removed, possession is expected to rely more heavily on valid grounds, correctly served notices and your records. Safety and information documents such as your gas safety record, EICR, energy certificate, deposit protection and the current "How to Rent" guide can be relevant to particular grounds and to how a case is viewed, and a missing or out-of-date document can cause delays or problems. The move to periodic tenancies also means there is no single "renewal" moment to prompt you, so it is easy for a certificate date to slip by unnoticed.

That is where being organised pays off. Keeping every certificate, date and document in one place, with a reminder before each date you have added falls due, turns a long list of duties into a set of small, manageable tasks. VEYLO X is built for exactly that. It is a record-keeping tool: it keeps your documents together and reminds you ahead of the dates you add. It does not give legal advice or decide whether you meet your obligations, and the decision always stays with you.