What the New Renters’ Rights Act Means for Landlords and How to Stay Compliant

By Dan Mottram, Operations Director, Hawes Property Services

The private rental sector is entering one of its biggest periods of change in decades.

The newly passed Renters’ Rights Act 2025 (formerly the Renters’ Reform Bill)

brings major updates designed to make renting fairer, safer, and more secure for

tenants, while placing new obligations on landlords and property managers.

If you own or manage residential or commercial rental property, it is essential to

understand what is changing, what it means for your responsibilities, and how you

can stay compliant without adding unnecessary strain to your operations.

Key Changes Landlords Need to Know

1. End of Section 21 “No-Fault” Evictions

The abolition of Section 21 means landlords will no longer be able to evict tenants

without reason. Future evictions must be made under reasonable grounds using

Section 8, for example, rent arrears, antisocial behaviour, or plans to sell or move

back into the property.

This means tenancy management and documentation need to be watertight, with

robust evidence logs and maintenance records to support any action.

2. Periodic Tenancies by Default

Fixed-term Assured Shorthold Tenancies (ASTs) will be replaced with rolling, periodic

tenancies. Tenants can now end their tenancy with two months’ notice, but landlords

must provide a valid reason to do the same.

Good property upkeep and timely responses to maintenance issues will be even

more important in retaining tenants and preventing disputes.

3. Property Standards and Maintenance Timescales

The new Act extends the Decent Homes Standard to private rented properties and

introduces stronger response times for resolving repairs, damp and mould issues,

and safety defects.

For landlords, this means you must be able to evidence that issues are logged,

inspected, and rectified within the specified timeframe. A reliable maintenance

partner is no longer optional; it is essential.

4. New Tenant Rights and Protections

Landlords will be expected to consider reasonable requests for pets, keep

transparent rent increase processes, and avoid excessive up-front rent demands.

Clear communication, accurate documentation, and fair procedures are key to

compliance and tenant satisfaction.

How This Impacts You as a Landlord

These reforms are designed to professionalise the sector, but they also raise the bar

for administrative, safety, and maintenance compliance.

Whether you manage one flat or a large portfolio, you will need to demonstrate:

• A clear maintenance log and response tracking system

• Evidence of safety checks and statutory compliance (gas, electrical, fire, legionella, etc.)

• Proactive management of tenant communication and property standards

• Partnerships with qualified contractors who can act quickly and document every stage

Failure to comply could lead to penalties, enforcement action, or claims through the

new Private Rented Sector Ombudsman.

How Hawes Property Services Can Help

At Hawes Property Services, we work with landlords, letting agents, and property

companies across Yorkshire and the North West to deliver full compliance and

maintenance support, from reactive repairs to scheduled statutory testing.

Our services include:

• Electrical, gas, fire and water hygiene testing

• Reactive maintenance cover

• Planned property inspections and safety audits

• Tenant-facing maintenance reporting systems

• Full documentation and evidence trails for compliance audits

We understand the legislative landscape and have already aligned our processes to the new

standards set out under the Renters’ Rights Act 2025.

When new timescales or compliance obligations come into force, our clients are

ready, not reacting.

Next Steps

If you are reviewing your portfolio in light of the Renters’ Rights Act, or want to

ensure your maintenance and compliance systems are fit for the new regulations, we

can help.

Get in touch today to arrange a compliance review or discuss how our

maintenance team can support your properties under the new legislation.

Email us at info@hawes.services or call 01274 317917 to speak with one of our team.