Renters' rights - landlords

End to section 21 'no-fault' evictions

Section 21 eviction notices will be abolished. This means that:

• you'll only be able to evict tenants when you have a specific legally valid reason, known as a 'possession ground'

• within 12 months, landlords can only give notice in limited circumstances, such as rent arrears or antisocial behaviour

• after 12 months, a landlord may only seek possession under defined grounds, such as selling or moving into the property, with 4 months' notice

End to fixed-term tenancies

Fixed-term assured and assured shorthold tenancies (ASTs) will be replaced by periodic assured tenancies or 'rolling tenancies'. This means that renters will be able to stay in their property until they end the tenancy or until a landlord serves a valid notice to end it or obtains a court order for possession. Renters will be able to end the tenancy at any point by giving 2 months' notice.

Rent increases (within a tenancy)

These will be limited to once a year at the market rate. Landlords must give tenants at least 2 months' notice of a rent increase. Tenants can challenge increases at the First-tier Tribunal.

Advance rent

Only one month's rent will be payable in advance and landlords will be unable to request payment before an agreement is signed.

Written agreements

All tenancies must have a written contract.

Right to request a pet

Landlords cannot unreasonably refuse a tenant’s request to have a pet.

Ending rental bidding

It will be illegal to invite or accept bids above the advertised rent.

End to discrimination

It will be illegal for landlords to discriminate against tenants who receive benefits or have children.