The Renters’ Right Act 2025 (“the Act”) represents one of the most significant reforms to residential letting law in recent decades. Although much of the public conversation focuses on the urban The Renters’ Right Act 2025 (“the Act”) represents one of the most significant reforms to residential letting law in recent decades. Although much of the public conversation focuses on the urban rental market, the Act will have important implications for farmers, estate owners, advisers and rural businesses who let cottages, farmhouses, or tied accommodation. This article provides an overview of the key changes and explores how they may affect occupancy arrangements within the rural economy.
The Act aims to modernise the private rented sector by enhancing tenant security and raising property standards. One of the most impactful reforms is the abolition of fixed‑term assured shorthold tenancies (“ASTs”) in England and the removal of section 21 “no-fault” evictions. In future, all new and existing tenancies will convert to open‑ended periodic assured tenancies, with landlords required to rely on one of the statutory grounds for possession if they need a property back.
To balance the removal of section 21, the list of grounds for possession under section 8 of the Housing Act 1988 has been expanded from 21 to more than 30. These include mandatory and discretionary grounds covering issues such as rent arrears, anti-social behaviour, the landlord’s intention to sell, redevelopment work, or the need to occupy a property. Some grounds carry additional safeguards or restrictions—for example, new grounds relating to sale or personal occupation cannot be used within the first 12 months of a tenancy.