Can a landlord still make you leave your rented home without a reason — and what does the Renters’ Rights Act mean for you?

Why does this matter so much if you are renting in your 50s, 60s or beyond?

More people over 55 are renting privately than ever before. The number of households in this age group living in the private rented sector has grown by 70% since 2010 — nearly 870,000 households across England are now headed by someone aged 55 or over who rents their home.

Many of those households have been renting the same property for years. Yet until very recently, all of that could be ended with two months’ notice and no explanation required. For someone in their 60s or 70s who has built their life around a home, that kind of insecurity can be genuinely frightening.

The Renters’ Rights Act 2025 changes that picture substantially. Understanding what you are now entitled to is worth a few minutes of your time — especially since 42% of older private renters say they struggle to meet the cost of bills or essentials.

Has “no-fault” eviction really been abolished — and what does that mean in practice?

Yes. From 1 May 2026, Section 21 no longer exists in England. A Section 21 notice was the legal tool that allowed landlords to end a tenancy without giving any reason — sometimes called a “no-fault eviction” because no fault on the tenant’s part was needed.

If your landlord now wants you to leave, they must serve a Section 8 notice and prove one of a specific list of legal grounds. These include things like significant rent arrears, antisocial behaviour, or the landlord genuinely needing to sell the property or move a close family member in. Crucially, they must give you four months’ notice in most circumstances — you only need to give two months’ notice if you want to leave.

If you receive a notice that looks like a Section 21, it is unlawful. Contact Shelter (shelter.org.uk) or Citizens Advice straight away — they can help you challenge it for free.

What has happened to fixed-term tenancies?

Fixed-term assured shorthold tenancies — where you sign up for six or twelve months — have also been abolished. All private tenancies in England are now “periodic”, meaning they continue month by month until either you or your landlord ends them following the correct legal process.

If your existing tenancy had a fixed end date, it automatically became a periodic tenancy on 1 May 2026. You do not need to sign a new agreement. This is actually good news: your tenancy cannot simply “expire” and leave you in a rushed scramble to find somewhere new.

How do rent increases work under the new rules?

Your landlord can only raise your rent once every twelve months. They must give you at least two months’ written notice before any increase takes effect.

Importantly, if you think a proposed increase is unreasonable, you have the right to challenge it at the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) — a free service. The tribunal can cap the increase at the local market rate. It cannot set the rent higher than what your landlord has proposed, so challenging an increase carries no risk of making things worse.

Before May 2026, some landlords used the threat of a Section 21 notice to pressure tenants into accepting steep rent rises. With that threat now gone, you are in a much stronger position to push back if an increase seems unfair.

What are your new rights around pets, deposits, and paying rent in advance?

Several practical changes came in alongside the headline eviction reforms:

• Pets: You now have the right to request permission to keep a pet. Your landlord can only refuse for a reasonable and specific reason — a blanket ban on pets is no longer acceptable. They may ask you to take out pet damage insurance as a condition.
• Rent in advance: Landlords can no longer demand more than one month’s rent before you move in. Previously some asked for six weeks upfront, which could be a significant barrier.
• Bidding wars banned: Properties must now be advertised at a fixed asking price. Landlords and agents cannot ask for, encourage, or accept offers above that price — so if you see a home you want to rent, you know the price is the price.

Are you protected if you receive benefits — or if your landlord has refused to rent to you because of them?

Yes — and this is one of the most significant changes for many people over 55. It is now illegal for a landlord or letting agent to discriminate against you because you receive Housing Benefit or other means-tested benefits such as Universal Credit. It is also illegal to refuse to rent to someone because they have children.

Adverts that said “no DSS” or “no benefit claimants” were already being challenged in courts before this law — now the ban is explicit and enforceable. If you believe you have been turned down for a tenancy on these grounds, you can report it to your local council’s housing enforcement team.

What should you do if your landlord has not given you an information sheet about your rights?

All private landlords in England were required to give their existing tenants a copy of The Renters’ Rights Act Information Sheet 2026 by 31 May 2026. If you have not received one, you can download it directly from GOV.UK by searching “Renters Rights Act information sheet”. Landlords who failed to provide it could face a fine of up to £7,000.

If you are unsure about your rights, think your landlord is not following the new rules, or have received any kind of eviction notice, get free advice as soon as possible:

• Shelter: shelter.org.uk — free housing advice online, by phone (0808 800 4444), or in person at local offices
• Citizens Advice: citizensadvice.org.uk — free, local, and covers benefits, housing, and legal rights
• Your local council: most councils have a housing enforcement team for private rented sector complaints