The new Renter’s Rights Act came into effect at the beginning of May 2026 and has already had a profound impact on the rental market.
In anticipation of the change in law, some landlords have been preparing by evicting tenants. The Guardian recently reported that in the run-up to the legislation coming into effect, the number of requests from landlords to issue no-fault evictions went up significantly.
Solicitors have reported that four times as many of these last-minute notices were served compared to last year, while Citizen’s Advice Bureau have been helping more tenants than usual with fighting no-fault evictions.
What is a no-fault eviction and why are they banned?
A no-fault eviction is when a landlord evicts a tenant without a valid reason for doing so. The ban on no-fault evictions, also called Section 21 notices, is designed to protect tenants from being made homeless when they have been good tenants.
There are still valid legal reasons where a landlord can evict a tenant, which include:
- Unpaid rent or arrears
- Anti-social behaviour
- Wanting to sell the property
What does the ban on no fault evictions mean for tenants?
The new law means that there will be less risk of homelessness for tenants who, previously, could be evicted without much warning and without anywhere to go. Moving at short notice can also be costly, with deposits and fees to pay, so it will give tenants more financial security.
It will mean more security if tenants need to report repairs or maintenance needed or if there is a hazard in the home, for example, mould or wiring issues.
The law will mean less disruption and more security for families with young children too. Ultimately, the ban on no-fault evictions gives more power to the tenants while ensuring the landlords can still deal with nuisance and non-paying tenants effectively.
How does the no-fault eviction ban affect the rental market?
For landlords, the change to eviction notices has already impacted the market. Some landlords have chosen to sell up rather than have to deal with the new legal framework.
One immediate impact is that there may be fewer rental properties available, meaning rental prices may rise for the tenants moving in.
The new system requires evidence to support what is called a Section 8 eviction, which can potentially take longer. This means that if a case moves slowly through the court after a tenant refuses to move out, a landlord may be stuck with a non-paying or nuisance tenant.
A solution that property owners have already found is to have a stricter vetting process for renters. With the help of a professional letting service, landlords can reduce the risk of letting a property to a problematic tenant.
Checks a letting agent can do include:
- Right to Rent, which checks the legal status of a renter
- Credit history, in particular looking for bankruptcy and County Court Judgements
- Employment and income checks
- References from previous landlords or employers
These checks help ensure that the tenant can afford the rent, is legally allowed to rent and is reliable. Employing a letting agent to use their expertise in this service can take the headache out of finding good tenants.
