Guidance for tenants

Effective from 1 May 2026, the Renters Rights Act 2025 gives tenants new rights and protections, including:

• Fixed term tenancies will be banned and replaced with assured periodic (or ‘rolling’) tenancies.
• Rent increases are limited to once per year, with notice to be given at least two months in advance. If you think the proposed rent increase is higher than property’s market value, you can challenge it at First-tier Tribunal.
• Your landlord is no longer able to issue an eviction notice under Section 21 of the Housing Act 1988 to evict you.
• Your landlord is only able to evict you when they have a specific, legally valid reason, which can include if they need to sell or move into the property.
• Rental bidding is now banned, and landlords/letting agents must publish the asking rent for the property in any written adverts.
• Discrimination against renters who have children or receive benefits is illegal.

To find out more about the new protections for tenants under the RRA, visit the Government’s housing hub website.

Landlords can find out more on the housing hub website.

Effective from 1 May 2026, the Renters Rights Act gives new rights and responsibilities to landlords, letting agents and tenants, including:

• Fixed term tenancies used by Private Sector Landlords will be replaced with assured periodic (or ‘rolling’) tenancies. Existing Assured Shorthold Tenancies (AST) automatically convert to rolling Assured Tenancies.
• Housing Association AST’s do not convert to the new tenancy regime until 2027
• Where an existing tenancy agreement is wholly oral, the obligation to provide a written statement of terms needs to be met within a month of the commencement date
• Landlords with existing written tenancies will need to provide tenants with a copy of the government published Renters’ Rights Act ‘Information Sheet’ on or before 31 May 2026
• Rent increases are limited to once per year, with at least two months' notice in advance.
• Rental bidding is now banned. Landlords/letting agents must publish the asking rent for a property in any written adverts and must adhere to this rental for the agreed let.
• Discrimination against renters who have children or receive benefits is illegal.
• Section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions are abolished.
• Landlords will only be able to evict tenants in specific circumstances, including selling the property, moving themselves or family members into the property.
• The notice period required for a landlord to end a tenancy will vary depending on the circumstances, between 4 weeks and 4 months.
• The changes will make it easier to evict tenants who commit anti-social behaviour.

Find out more, and make sure you’re compliant with the changes listed, on the Government’s housing hub page Renters Rights Act – changes for private landlords 

Property licensing helps tenants and landlords by setting clear standards on the maintenance and management of properties. This helps to ensure that rental properties are kept in good condition and that they are safe.

We keep a register of all licensed properties in the borough.

If you are concerned about the condition of the property you live in, you think your property may not have a license or you want to report an issue with a neighbouring rented property.

Alternatively, please send an email to propertylicensing@walthamforest.gov.uk or call us on 020 8496 4949.

If your landlord is failing to make the necessary repairs to your home, licensing can be used to make your landlord take action. It is also a criminal offence for landlords and managing agents to let out a property that is not properly licensed. The Council can take enforcement action against landlords. In some cases a rent repayment order (RRO) for up to 12 months of rental income can be made against a landlord who has not licensed their property.

If you report a property to the Council, we will check whether it is licensed. We may need to carry out an inspection to check on the condition and what work may need to be carried out. Reasonable access may be required to enable this inspection of the property. Where possible and/or appropriate, your landlord will be notified of this.

There are now restrictions on the types of fees your landlord/agent can charge you.

Why the property you rent needs to be licensed

• Property licensing has a number of licence conditions that help to ensure that a property is in a good condition, that it is safe and that it is being suitably managed
• Landlords must be considered to be a 'fit and proper' person who has agreed to abide by the conditions of their licence. This means that they should not have any criminal convictions or other reasons why they should not be renting out properties
• Licensing gives some protection to tenants from eviction. Landlords are not allowed to evict tenants in order to avoid licensing. One of the aims of the licensing schemes is to maintain good tenancies and the Council will provide tenancy support for tenants threatened with eviction. If your landlord is threatening you with eviction, please contact us at propertylicensing@walthamforest.gov.uk.

We have devised a helpful user guide for tenants that includes all the relevant information you will need.