Under the Renters' Rights Act 2025 (in force from 1 May 2026), all private tenancies in England are periodic — meaning they roll on month to month with no fixed end date. Fixed-term tenancies no longer exist for new rentals, and existing fixed terms converted to periodic on 1 May 2026.

No. Section 21 'no-fault' evictions have been abolished. Your landlord can only end your tenancy using one of the valid grounds in Schedule 1 of the Act — for example, they genuinely need to sell the property, move back in themselves, or you have rent arrears above the threshold. They must serve a Section 8 notice and specify the legal ground.

You must give at least 2 months' written notice to end your tenancy. You can serve this notice at any point — there is no minimum period you must have lived in the property first.

Yes. The Renters' Rights Act 2025 requires landlords to provide a written tenancy agreement before the tenancy begins. It must set out the key terms including rent amount, the address, and the grounds under which the landlord can end the tenancy.

No. Your landlord must give you at least 24 hours' written notice before entering the property, except in a genuine emergency. You also have the right to refuse entry if the request is unreasonable.

Your landlord can only increase your rent once every 12 months. They must use the formal Section 13 notice process and give you at least 2 months' written notice of any increase.

Yes. If you believe the proposed increase is above market rent, you can refer it to the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) before the increase takes effect. The tribunal will assess the open market rent for a comparable property. Importantly, the tribunal cannot set the rent higher than the amount your landlord originally proposed — so there is no risk of it being increased further by challenging it.

No. Since 1 May 2026, landlords are banned from requesting more than one month's rent in advance. Asking for larger upfront payments (sometimes used to discriminate against tenants on benefits) is now a civil offence carrying a fine of up to £7,000.

If you are struggling to pay rent, contact your landlord or agent as soon as possible — many will agree a repayment plan. Your landlord can only apply to court for possession based on rent arrears if you owe at least 3 months' rent (Ground 8). Seek advice from Citizens Advice or Shelter immediately if you are threatened with eviction.

No. Under the Tenant Fees Act 2019, most letting fees are banned. Landlords and agents can only charge rent, a refundable tenancy deposit, a holding deposit (capped at 1 week's rent), and certain default charges (e.g. late rent, lost keys). Any other charges are unlawful.

The deposit is capped at 5 weeks' rent (where annual rent is under £50,000) or 6 weeks' rent (where annual rent is £50,000 or above). This limit is set by the Tenant Fees Act 2019.

Yes. Your landlord must protect your deposit in a government-approved Tenancy Deposit Scheme within 30 days of receiving it, and give you written details (called Prescribed Information) within the same period. The three approved schemes are: Deposit Protection Service (DPS), MyDeposits, and Tenancy Deposit Scheme (TDS).

If your landlord fails to protect your deposit, you may be entitled to compensation of 1–3 times the deposit amount through the courts.

Your landlord must return your deposit (or the agreed remainder after any deductions) within 10 days of you both agreeing how much will be returned. If there is a dispute, the undisputed amount must be returned promptly and the disputed portion held until resolved.

Deductions must be for genuine costs caused by the tenant, such as damage beyond fair wear and tear, unpaid rent, or missing items. Your landlord cannot deduct for general deterioration from normal use — for example, minor scuffs on walls, carpet wear from ordinary use, or faded paintwork.

All three government-approved schemes offer a free Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) service. You can raise a dispute directly with the scheme — you do not need to go to court. The adjudicator will consider the evidence (check-in and check-out inventories, photos, receipts) and make a binding decision. Always take dated photographs at check-in and check-out to protect yourself.

Always report repairs in writing — by email or through your agent's portal — so you have a clear record with a date. Include photos where possible. If you report verbally (by phone), follow up in writing to confirm what was said.

The timescale depends on the urgency. Emergency hazards (e.g. no heating in winter, dangerous electrics, burst pipes) should be addressed within 24 hours. Urgent but non-emergency repairs should be completed within a reasonable period — typically within 20 working days. Routine repairs should be completed within a reasonable timeframe agreed with you.

Awaab's Law introduces mandatory timeframes for investigating and fixing damp, mould, and other hazardous conditions. It is currently in force in social housing and will be extended to the private rented sector in a later phase (subject to government consultation). Your landlord already has a legal duty under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 to keep the property fit for habitation.

If your landlord fails to carry out necessary repairs after reasonable notice, you have several options: complain to your local council's Environmental Health department (who have powers to issue improvement notices), apply to the First-tier Tribunal, or seek legal advice. Do not withhold rent as a way to force repairs — this can put you at risk of eviction.

As a tenant, you are generally responsible for minor day-to-day maintenance: replacing light bulbs, keeping the property clean and ventilated to prevent mould, and fixing damage you or your guests cause. Your landlord is responsible for the structure and exterior, heating and hot water, gas and electrical installations, and ensuring the property meets health and safety standards.

You must give your landlord at least 2 months' written notice. Your notice must be in writing and clearly state the date you intend to vacate. There is no fixed period you must have lived in the property before you can give notice.

At checkout, the property will be inspected against the original check-in inventory. You will usually be asked to sign a checkout report. Be present for the checkout if at all possible, and take your own dated photographs of every room. Return all keys on or before the last day of your tenancy.

Fair wear and tear is the natural deterioration of a property and its contents through normal, everyday use. Examples include minor scuffs on walls, small nail holes, carpet pile flattening, and slight fading of paintwork over time. These cannot be charged to you. Damage caused by accident, misuse, or neglect is different and may be deducted from your deposit.

You must return the property in the same state of cleanliness as at the start of your tenancy (as documented in the inventory). If the check-in inventory noted the property was professionally cleaned, you should return it to that standard — but you do not have to use a professional cleaner if you can achieve the same result yourself. Landlords cannot require professional cleaning as a blanket condition.

Raise a dispute with the tenancy deposit scheme your deposit is protected in. They offer a free ADR service and will consider evidence from both sides. If your landlord's deposit is not protected, contact Citizens Advice — you may be able to claim compensation through the courts.

Yes — the Renters' Rights Act 2025 gives you the right to request permission to keep a pet. Your landlord cannot unreasonably refuse. They can decline for a legitimate reason (e.g. a leasehold restriction), but a blanket 'no pets' policy is no longer sufficient. If you keep a pet, your landlord can require you to take out pet insurance to cover potential damage.

You have the right to request permission to make reasonable improvements. Your landlord cannot unreasonably refuse. Improvements that make the home more accessible (e.g. installing a grab rail) should generally be permitted. Your landlord may ask you to restore the property to its original state when you leave, unless they agree otherwise.

No. Discrimination on the basis of protected characteristics — including race, religion, sex, disability, or family status (such as having children or receiving benefits) — is unlawful. The Renters' Rights Act 2025 strengthens these protections. Landlords and agents found to have discriminated can face fines of up to £7,000 for a first offence, and up to £40,000 or criminal prosecution for repeat offences.

The PRS Database is a new mandatory register introduced by the Renters' Rights Act 2025. All private landlords in England must register themselves and their properties before they can legally let them. The database allows tenants to check their landlord is registered and compliant. Letting agents are also required to only work with registered landlords.

The Renters' Rights Act 2025 requires all private landlords to join a government-approved Ombudsman scheme. The Ombudsman provides a free, independent route for tenants to raise complaints about their landlord without going to court. The Ombudsman can require landlords to apologise, provide information, take action, and pay compensation of up to £25,000. The scheme is expected to be operational in late 2026.

Several organisations offer free advice and support:

• Citizens Advice — free legal and housing advice (citizensadvice.org.uk)
• Shelter — specialist housing charity with a helpline and online advice (shelter.org.uk)
• Your local council — can investigate hazardous conditions and serve improvement notices on landlords
• First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) — free to apply, handles rent disputes and other tenancy matters