Almost 4 years since legislation of this nature was first promised, the Renters’ Rights Bill has now completed its final stage in Parliament before it receives Royal Assent.
Proposals to end no-fault evictions were first set out in the Conservative’s 2019 manifesto, which ultimately led to the Renters (Reform) Bill being introduced in 2023. However, following the 2024 election it was scrapped. Subsequently, Labour proposed its own Renters’ Rights Bill.
The Renters’ Rights Bill has been discussed in the two Chambers of Parliament; however, the House of Lords debate last week dealt with the last remaining issues. The House of Commons debate on the 22 October 2025 was the final formality before Royal Assent.
The Bill has been voted through essentially unaltered, except for minor changes including an exemption for shared owners to the 12-month letting ban. Other amendments, including allowing landlords to take a separate pet damage deposit on top of the usual deposit cap, were rejected.
As the Bill is now in its final form, the next stage is Royal Assent.
Despite pressure to confirm the timeline that the reforms will take effect, the Housing Minister, Matthew Pennycook, refused to provide a specific timeframe. He did, however, confirm that the Renters’ Rights Bill was “in touching distance of becoming law”.
Mr Pennycook also stated that following Royal Assent, the Government will ensure a smooth transition to the new system, which will give the private rented sector sufficient time to prepare. The Government is likely to announce plans for implementation in the next few weeks.
Some parts of the legislation, including the abolition of section 21 evictions, will come into force on the commencement date. However, the timeline for other aspects, such as the establishment of an Ombudsman and the application of the Decent Homes Standard, is uncertain.
The commencement date is likely to be around April to June 2026, but we will not know for certain until the Government releases its plans for implementation.
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