The Renters’ Rights Bill: What Landlords Need to Know in 2025

As the UK’s lettings landscape shifts once again, landlords and investors in England are preparing for some of the most significant updates seen in over a decade. The Renters’ Rights Bill, proposed under Labour, introduces new legislation across the full tenancy lifecycle -from marketing a rental property to ending a tenancy.

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While the headlines may suggest this creates added pressure for landlords, in reality, these reforms are targeted at a small minority of non-compliant landlords. For responsible property owners and those working with professional agencies like CasaCity, the changes offer a chance to demonstrate quality, improve tenant trust, and continue building long-term success in the sector.

• Landlords will need to register on a national database and join a new redress scheme
• Fixed-term ASTs will be abolished, with all tenancies moving to periodic agreements
• Bidding wars, blanket ‘no pets’ clauses, and discrimination against benefit recipients will be banned
• Local councils will have greater powers to penalise non-compliant landlords
• Section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions will be abolished, with landlords required to use valid grounds under Section 8

Until now, England has been the only UK nation not requiring landlord registration. This is set to change under the Renters’ Rights Bill, with the introduction of a new national digital Private Rented Sector Database.

This database will:

• Help landlords stay up to date with changing compliance requirements
• Allow tenants to make more informed choices about their housing
• Enable local councils to focus enforcement efforts on landlords who consistently fail to meet their obligations
  
  

At the same time, landlords will be required to join a new Private Rented Sector Ombudsman. This offers a clear pathway for resolving complaints outside of court, reducing legal costs and time delays.

For professional landlords and those working with regulated agents, these changes simply formalise high standards already in place and help level the playing field by holding poor landlords accountable.

The marketing and lettings process is also seeing important updates:

• Discrimination against tenants with children or those receiving benefits will become illegal
• Bidding wars will no longer be permitted - landlords must advertise a clear asking rent and cannot accept or encourage offers above this amount
• Pet bans must be reasonable.While landlords can still refuse pets for valid reasons (e.g. lease terms or property size), blanket bans will not be allowed. Pet insurance may be required to protect against damages
  
  

These changes are not restrictive, but rather a step toward a fairer, more transparent rental system - something that aligns with Casa City’s approach to tenant relations and property marketing.

One of the most impactful reforms is the end of Assured Shorthold Tenancies (ASTs). Instead, all tenancies will become periodic, giving tenants the right to serve two months’ notice at anypoint.

Further updates include:

• A cap on upfront payments - landlords will only be able to request one month’s rent in advance
• The introduction of Awaab’s Law, enforcing stricter timeframes to deal with serious property issues such as damp and mould
• Rent increases limited to once per year via Section 13, and tenants will have stronger rights to challenge excessive rises through the tribunal
  
  

While this does place more emphasis on responsive management, professional landlords will already have solid systems in place - and for CasaCity landlords, we handle all this on your behalf.

To improve enforcement, local authorities are being granted increased powers and financial penalties, aimed squarely at those who ignore legal obligations:

• Maximum civil penalties rising from £30,000 to £40,000
• Councils can issue on-the-spot penalties of up to £7,000 for serious hazards
• Illegal evictions can now be penalised directly by councils, removing reliance on court enforce men

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These measures are not designed to penalise well-run portfolios - they are there to root out unsafe, mismanaged rentals and make space for high-quality properties like those in Casa City’s care.

A formal Decent Homes Standard will now be extended to the private rented sector. This will build upon existing responsibilities under the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018.

The Standard requires that:

• No serious hazards are present,as per the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS)
• Properties are in a reasonable state of repair
• Heating, ventilation, and insulation meet current expectations
  
  

This should not be feared by landlords who already provide quality homes. In fact, it helps raise the bar for the industry and discourages low-standard landlords from undercutting the market.

Section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions willbe abolished. Going forward, landlords will need to use Section 8, which requires a valid ground for possession.

Key changes include:

• Landlords wishing to sell or move back in must wait 12 months before issuing notice
• The notice period increases from 2 months to 4 months
• After using the “intention to sell” ground (Ground 1A), the property cannot be relet for 16 months
  

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These adjustments aim to protect tenants from unnecessary upheaval, while still giving landlords appropriate routes to repossess when needed.

For landlords who want to stay ahead of the curve without the stress, CasaCity offers a seamless solution.

We actively monitor regulatory updates, adapt tenancy processes, and ensure all compliance requirements - from safety checks to database registration - are handled efficiently. Ourfull-service approach means:

• All changes under the Renters’Rights Bill are already factored into how we operate
• Landlords don’t need to worry about the legal details - we take care of them
• Your portfolio stays fully compliant, high-performing, and tenant-friendly
  
  

This Bill rewards professionalism, and Casa City clients are already ahead of the game.

The Renters’ Rights Bill represents a new chapter for the private rented sector - not a threat, but an opportunity.For forward-thinking landlords, it promotes quality, trust, and long-term returns.

Rather than penalising good operators, the Bill is focused on raising standards and creating fairness. With CasaCity by your side, adapting to these changes becomes part of your long-term growth - not an obstacle.