RRA 2025 – Implementation Table Focus Note

Local councils acquire new powers to investigate, inspect properties and demand documents to enforce housing standards more effectively and crack down on rogue LLs.

• All ASTs automatically convert to rolling Assured Periodic Tenancies with no end date.
• End of s.21 Notices (“no fault” evictions).
• Reformed possession grounds come into law (these include ground 1A – Sale and Ground 5 where the property is needed to house a minister).
• Ban on rental bidding and advance rent. (LLs will be able to ask for up to one month’s rent once a tenancy agreement has been signed and before commencement.)
• New rules for rent increases (limited to annual increases by way of a s.13 Notice).
• New rules for termination. (T can give two months’ notice at any time. LLs must establish one of the statutory grounds for possession and serve a s.8 Notice giving the required notice for that ground. The grounds include use as a Manse (Ground 5 – two months’ notice at any time) and sale (Ground 1A - four months’ notice after initial 12 months).)
• Stronger Council enforcement and widened scope of Rent Repayment Orders (RRO). (RROs will apply to more offences with the maximum amount of a RRO increasing to 24 months’ rent.)
• Pet requests: Tenant requests for a pet cannot be unreasonably refused. (Government guidance will be published.) Rent Smart Wales advise this will also apply in Wales.
• Discrimination protection: LLs/agents cannot discriminate against potential tenants with children or who receive benefits. (Will also apply in Wales and Scotland.)

          Launch of Private Rented Sector Database (PRS Database)

• Mandatory registration of LLs and their properties on the new PRS Database.
• PRS Database will provide information for LLs, Ts and Councils. (Details of what it will contain are awaited but expected to include LL contact details, property details including No. residents and safety information e.g. gas safety certificate.)
• Rollout will start on a regional basis. (Details awaited of when and where this will start.)
• The PRD Database will ultimately be accessible by the public.
• Annual Fee will be charged to LLs. (Amount TBC.)
  (Further details are awaited from the government as noted above including who will need to register for Methodist Church properties: Managing Trustee bodies or TMCP?)
  
  Private Rented Sector LL ombudsman
   
• Dispute resolution service for Ts outside of the Court. LLs must comply with ombudsman decisions.
• Support to LLs through guidance and training on complaint handling.
• LLs required to become members of ombudsman scheme. (Expected sometime in 2028.)
• LLs to fund the ombudsman. (Details of charging system awaited)

(Further details on the system awaited from government.)

• Extension of Awaab’s Law to private rented sector
• Introduction of a Decent Homes Standard. (Details of the standards and introduction timetable to be agreed.)
• Minimum energy efficiency standards increased (in England and Wales) to an equivalent EPC rating of “C” for all rented property by 1 October 2030 – unless an exemption applies. (In Scotland LLs have until 4 January 2028 for new tenancies and all tenancies by 2033.)

(Details of standards TBC but LLs encouraged to start works in meantime where required.)