Renters Rights Act: First steps - 27 December 2025

While the bulk of the Renters Rights Act will come into effect from 1st May 2026, some parts are coming into play from 27 December 2025.

These parts reflect the additional powers that Local Housing Authorities (LHAs) with stronger rights to investigate whether a landlord or letting agent has breached certain housing laws.

These powers can be -
Providing information - Anyone who has acted as a landlord, agent, licensor, marketer, or held an interest in the property in the last 12 months can be asked to provide information to an LHA. Non-compliance with requests can result in court action.
Access - LHA can request access to properties and business premesis with 24 hours notice to investigate breaches.
Abandonment - Abandonment provisions in the Housing and Planning Act 2016, which have never been brought into force, will be repealed, which means they will be removed from the legislation and cannot be enacted in the future.

Local authorities will be required to make reports to the Secretary of State for Housing about their enforcement of the legislation.