Legislation – Renters’ Rights Act 2025
Which version?
Latest available (Revised)
Original (As enacted)
Part 1Tenancy reform
Chapter 1Assured tenancies
Other changes
20Notices to quit by tenants under assured tenancies: timing
(1)
Section 5 of the Protection from Eviction Act 1977 (notices to quit) is amended as follows.
(2)
(3)
“(1ZA)
A notice to quit satisfies this subsection—
(a)
where it is given by a tenant in relation to premises let under an assured tenancy, if it is given—
(i)
not less than any length of time before the date on which the notice is to take effect, not exceeding two months, that the landlord has agreed to in writing, or
(ii)
in the absence of agreement under sub-paragraph (i), not less than two months before the date on which the notice is to take effect;
(b)
otherwise, if it is given not less than four weeks before the date on which it is to take effect.
But in relation to landlords under assured tenancies see section 5(1) of the Housing Act 1988 (notice to quit by landlord is of no effect).
(1ZB)
(1ZC)
That does not affect the validity of any notice to quit premises let under a joint assured tenancy that is given by only one or some of the tenants.
(1ZD)
In this section “joint assured tenancy” means an assured tenancy where two or more persons are tenants under the tenancy.”
21Notices to quit by tenants under assured tenancies: other
“5ANotices to quit by tenants under assured tenancies
(1)
Any provision that would bind a tenant as to the means of giving a notice in writing to quit premises let under an assured tenancy is of no effect.
(2)
For the purposes of subsection (1) the “means of giving a notice in writing” is the mode by which the words of the notice are represented or reproduced in a visible form.
(3)
A notice by a tenant to quit premises let under an assured tenancy may be withdrawn before the date on which it takes effect by the tenant and landlord agreeing in writing to the withdrawal.
(4)
In the case of a joint assured tenancy, an agreement under subsection (3) is not valid unless it is made between the landlord and all of the tenants.
(5)
That does not affect the validity of any notice to quit premises let under a joint assured tenancy that is given by only one or some of the tenants.
(6)
In this section “joint assured tenancy” means an assured tenancy where two or more persons are tenants under the tenancy.”
22Limitation on obligation to pay removal expenses
(1)
Section 11 of the 1988 Act (payment of removal expenses) is amended as follows.
(2)
In the heading, after “expenses” insert “by social landlords”
.
(3)
“A1
This section applies to a dwelling-house let on an assured tenancy if—
(a)
the landlord is a relevant social landlord, and
(b)
the dwelling-house is social housing.”
(4)
In subsection (1), for “a dwelling-house let on an assured tenancy on Ground 6 or Ground 9” substitute “the dwelling-house on Ground 6, 6A or 9”
.
(5)
“(1A)
If the court makes the order for possession on Ground 6 in circumstances where—
(a)
the additional RSL condition is met, and
(b)
that condition is met in case B (alternative accommodation provided temporarily until other alternative accommodation becomes available),
the landlord must also pay to the tenant a sum equal to the reasonable expenses likely to be incurred by the tenant in removing from the alternative accommodation provided temporarily.”
(6)
In subsection (2), after “(1)” insert “or (1A)”
.
(7)
“(4)
In this section—
“relevant social landlord” means—
(a)
a private registered provider of social housing,
(b)
a body registered as a social landlord in the register maintained under section 1 of the Housing Act 1996,
(c)
a body registered as a social landlord in the register kept under section 20(1) of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2010, or
(d)
a housing trust, within the meaning of the Housing Associations Act 1985, which is a charity;
“social housing” has the same meaning as in Part 2 of the Housing and Regeneration Act 2008.”
23Assured agricultural occupancies: grounds for possession
In section 25 of the 1988 Act (security of tenure in relation to assured agricultural occupancies)—
(a)
omit subsection (1);
(b)
in subsection (2)—
(i)
for “Part II” substitute “Part 1”
;
(ii)
for “Ground 16” substitute “Grounds 2ZA to 2ZD, 5A and 5C”
.
24Assured agricultural occupancies: opting out etc
(1)
The 1988 Act is amended as follows.
(2)
(3)
In subsection (2)(a) of that section omit “which is not an assured shorthold tenancy”.
(4)
In subsection (3) of that section, for “shall be treated as if it were such a tenancy” substitute “, and every opted-out tenancy, is to be treated as if it were an assured tenancy”
.
(5)
“24AOpting out
(1)
A tenancy that would otherwise be an assured agricultural occupancy for the purposes of this Part is not such an occupancy for those purposes if—
(a)
before the tenancy is entered into, an opt-out notice (see subsection (2)) is served by the person who is to be the landlord on the person who is to be the tenant, and
(b)
the tenancy is not the continuation of an existing occupancy (see subsection (3)).
(2)
An opt-out notice is a notice, in such form as may be prescribed, stating that the tenancy is not to be an assured agricultural occupancy.
(3)
A tenancy is the continuation of an existing occupancy if—
(a)
the person to whom the tenancy is granted or, as the case may be, at least one of the persons to whom it is granted was, immediately before it was granted, a tenant under an assured agricultural occupancy, and
(b)
the person by whom it is granted or, as the case may be, at least one of the persons by whom it is granted was, immediately before it was granted, a landlord under the assured agricultural occupancy referred to in paragraph (a).
(4)
In this Chapter “opted-out tenancy” means a tenancy that, but for this section, would be an assured agricultural occupancy.”
25Accommodation for homeless people: duties of local authority
(1)
The Housing Act 1996 is amended as follows.
(2)
In section 193 (duty to persons with priority need who are not homeless intentionally)—
(a)
in subsection (1A), omit paragraph (b) (exception for notice of refusal to co-operate) and the “or” before it;
(b)
in subsection (6) omit paragraph (cc);
(c)
in subsection (7AB) omit paragraph (c) and the “and” before it;
(d)
in subsection (7AC)—
(i)
in paragraph (a) omit “shorthold”;
(ii)
at the end of paragraph (a) insert “and”
;
(iii)
omit paragraph (c) and the “and” before it.
(3)
In section 193C (consequences of deliberate and unreasonable refusal to co-operate) omit subsections (3) to (10) (homelessness relief duty).
(4)
Omit section 195A (duty to offer accommodation following re-application after private sector offer).
26Tenancy deposit requirements
(1)
Chapter 4 of Part 6 of the Housing Act 2004 (tenancy deposit schemes) is amended as follows.
(2)
In section 212—
(a)
in subsection (1), for “shorthold” substitute “assured”
;
(b)
in subsection (2), for “shorthold” substitute “assured”
;
(c)
in subsection (8)—
(i)
““assured tenancy” means an assured tenancy within the meaning of Chapter 1 of Part 1 of the Housing Act 1988 (for transitional provision see Schedule 6 to the Renters’ Rights Act 2025);”
(ii)
omit the definition of “shorthold tenancy”;
(iii)
in the definition of “tenancy deposit”, for “a shorthold” substitute “an assured”
;
(d)
in subsection (9), in paragraph (a), for “shorthold” substitute “assured”
.
(3)
In section 213, in each place it occurs, for “a shorthold” substitute “an assured”
.
(4)
In section 214—
(a)
in subsection (1)—
(i)
for “a shorthold” substitute “an assured”
;
(ii)
omit “on or after 6 April 2007”;
(b)
“(1ZA)
In relation to a tenancy that, immediately before the commencement date, was an assured shorthold tenancy, subsection (1) applies as if after “assured tenancy”, in the first place it occurs, there were inserted
“on or after 6 April 2007”.(1ZB)
In subsection (1ZA)—
“assured shorthold tenancy” means an assured shorthold tenancy within the meaning of Chapter 2 of Part 1 of the Housing Act 1988 as it had effect before the amendments made by the Renters’ Rights Act 2025;
(c)
in subsection (5), for “a shorthold” substitute “an assured”
.
(5)
“215Sanctions for non-compliance
(1)
Where a tenancy deposit has been paid in connection with an assured tenancy, the court may make an order for possession of the dwelling-house let on the assured tenancy only if the tenancy deposit is being held in accordance with an authorised scheme.
(2)
Where a tenancy deposit has been paid in connection with an assured tenancy, the court may make an order for possession of the dwelling-house let on the assured tenancy only if such requirements of the scheme as fell to be complied with by the landlord on receiving the tenancy deposit have been complied with (whether or not within the period mentioned by section 213(3)) in relation to the tenancy deposit.
(3)
Where a tenancy deposit has been paid in connection with an assured tenancy, the court may make an order for possession of the dwelling-house let on the assured tenancy only if the requirements of section 213(5) and (6)(a) have been complied with.
(4)
Subsections (1) to (3) do not apply in relation to an order for possession made on Ground 7A or 14 in Schedule 2 to the Housing Act 1988 (whether or not any other grounds for possession are met).
(5)
(a)
the tenancy deposit has been returned to the tenant in full or with such deductions as are agreed between the landlord and tenant, or
(b)
an application to the county court has been made under section 214(1) and has been determined by that court, withdrawn or settled by agreement between the parties.
(6)
If any deposit given in connection with an assured tenancy could not be lawfully required as a result of section 213(7), the court may not make an order for possession of the dwelling-house let on the assured tenancy until the property in question is returned to the person by whom it was given as a deposit.
(7)
In subsection (6) “deposit” has the meaning given by section 213(8).
(8)
In relation to an assured tenancy that was entered into before the commencement date, subsection (2) is to be read as if the words “on or after 6 April 2007” were inserted after “assured tenancy” in the first place it occurs.
(9)
See also paragraph 11 of Schedule 6 to the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 (disapplication of amendments to this Chapter in relation to a tenancy that immediately before the commencement date was an assured tenancy other than an assured shorthold tenancy).
(10)
In this section—
“assured shorthold tenancy” means an assured shorthold tenancy within the meaning of Chapter 2 of Part 1 of the Housing Act 1988 as it had effect before the amendments made by the Renters’ Rights Act 2025;
“the commencement date” has the meaning given by section 146(3) of the Renters’ Rights Act 2025;
“the court” means a court having jurisdiction to make an order for possession of a dwelling-house let on an assured tenancy (see section 40 of the Housing Act 1988);
“dwelling-house” has the same meaning as in Part 1 of the Housing Act 1988 (see section 45 of that Act).”
(6)
Omit section 215A.
(7)
In section 215B—
(a)
in the title, for “Shorthold” substitute “Assured”
;
(b)
in subsection (1)—
(i)
in paragraph (a) for “a shorthold” substitute “an assured”
;
(ii)
in paragraph (d) for “shorthold” substitute “assured”
.
(8)
Omit section 215C.
(9)
In Schedule 10—
(a)
for “shorthold tenancies”, in each place it occurs, substitute “assured tenancies”
;
(b)
for “a shorthold tenancy”, in each place it occurs, substitute “an assured tenancy”
.
27Tenant fees
(1)
The Tenant Fees Act 2019 is amended as follows.
(2)
Omit section 17.
(3)
In section 28(1) (interpretation)—
(a)
““assured tenancy” means an assured tenancy within the meaning of Chapter 1 of Part 1 of the Housing Act 1988 (for transitional provision see Schedule 6 to the Renters’ Rights Act 2025);”;
(b)
omit the definition of “long lease”;
(c)
- “(a)
an assured tenancy other than a tenancy of social housing,”.
(4)
In section 32 (Crown application), in subsection (3)(b), for “assured shorthold tenancy” substitute “assured tenancy”
.
(5)
In Schedule 3 (financial penalties etc), in paragraph 12(3)(a), for “assured shorthold tenancy” substitute “assured tenancy”
.