The Renters' Rights Act 2025 is the biggest change to private renting in a generation, and it is arriving in stages. Several of those stages are about the condition of the property itself, which is where we come in. This page brings it together in one place. Last updated 16 October 2026.
Key dates at a glance
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| 1 May 2026 | Main tenancy reforms in force: Section 21 abolished, all tenancies periodic, rent increases once a year by Section 13 notice, new rules on pets and rental bidding. |
| 31 May 2026 | Deadline for giving existing tenants the government's Renters' Rights Act Information Sheet. |
| 9 Oct to 18 Dec 2026 | Government consultation on applying Awaab's Law to private rented homes. |
| 15 Dec 2026 | Private Rented Sector Database opens, region by region, starting in the West Midlands. |
| 15 Jul 2027 | London opens for registration on the database. Deadline to register London properties: 14 October 2027. |
| 2027 at the earliest | Awaab's Law could start for private landlords. The consultation asks whether it should be 2027, 2028 or 2029. |
| 1 Oct 2030 | Minimum EPC rating rises from E to C for rented homes, with a £10,000 cost cap. See our EPC improvement service. |
| 2035 | Decent Homes Standard applies to private rented homes. |
Renters' Rights Act: what has already changed
Since 1 May 2026, no-fault evictions under Section 21 have ended, and every assured tenancy is periodic. To regain possession you now need a specific ground, such as serious rent arrears or moving back in yourself. Rent can only be increased once a year using a Section 13 notice with at least two months' notice, and tenants can challenge an increase.
The practical effect for maintenance is simple: with fewer ways to end a tenancy, tenants stay longer, and the condition of the property matters more. Repairs that are left to drift become complaints, and complaints can become enforcement.
Read more: Your rights, their rights: the Renters' Rights Act explained and Section 8 notices after Section 21.
The landlord database: register by October 2027 in London
Every private landlord in England will need to register themselves and each rental property on the new Private Rented Sector Database. Registration costs £65 per property and is renewed every year. You will need your gas safety certificate, EICR and EPC details to hand. Letting or marketing an unregistered property can bring a fine of up to £7,000, rising to £40,000 for repeated breaches.
London registration opens on 15 July 2027 and closes on 14 October 2027. If any of your certificates are out of date, now is the time to sort them, not the week before the deadline.
Read more: The PRS database explained.
Awaab's Law: damp, mould and fixed deadlines
Awaab's Law already applies to social housing. It sets fixed timescales for investigating and fixing hazards such as damp and mould: emergencies made safe within 24 hours, and significant hazards investigated within 10 working days. The government is now consulting on extending it to private landlords, with options for timescales ranging from 12 hours to 15 working days, and a start date of 2027 at the earliest.
The details are not final, but the direction is clear: landlords will need to respond to damp and mould quickly, find the cause and fix it properly, and keep a record that they did.
Read more: Awaab's Law and private landlords and Is it damp, condensation or mould?
Decent Homes Standard
For the first time, private rented homes will have to meet the Decent Homes Standard, from 2035. It covers serious hazards, a reasonable state of repair, reasonably modern kitchens and bathrooms, and adequate heating and insulation. That is a long way off, but kitchens, bathrooms and boilers fitted now will still be in place in 2035, so it is worth planning works with it in mind.
How we help you comply
- Damp and mould: we investigate the cause, carry out the repair and give you a written report with photographs, ready for Awaab's Law timescales.
- Certificates: gas safety, EICR, alarms and EPCs arranged and tracked, so your database registration is straightforward.
- Fast reactive repairs: one call, an honest attendance time, and photographs when it is done.
- Energy efficiency: the works that move an EPC towards C, quoted and completed by one team.
- Records: every job comes with a dated report, which is your evidence if a tenant or council asks.
Want a property checked against the new rules? Request a quotation
This page is a general summary for landlords in England and is not legal advice. Dates are as announced by the government at 16 October 2026 and some are subject to consultation.
