London (Punjaboutlook) In a landmark victory for renters across the United Kingdom, the Government’s Renters’ Rights Act has officially become law this week—ushering in the most significant expansion of tenant protections in a generation. Labour MP Preet Kaur Gill hailed the legislation as a long-overdue step towards fairness, dignity, and security for the 11 million people living in private rented accommodation.
The new law fundamentally reshapes the private rental landscape by ending Section 21 “no-fault” evictions, a controversial clause that for years allowed landlords to evict tenants without reason. All assured tenancies will now shift to a simpler, periodic structure, giving tenants greater stability and confidence in their homes.
Among the most notable reforms are stronger tenant rights—including the ability to request pets, which landlords must consider and cannot unreasonably deny. To balance interests, landlords may request pet insurance to cover potential damage. The Act also introduces safeguards against “backdoor evictions,” allowing tenants to challenge excessive rent hikes designed to force them out.
To ensure swift and fair dispute resolution, a new Private Rented Sector Landlord Ombudsman will handle complaints efficiently and impartially. A national database of landlords will be established to improve transparency, ensure compliance, and empower tenants with vital information before signing a tenancy agreement.
For the first time, the Decent Homes Standard will extend to the private rental sector, compelling landlords to maintain safe, habitable properties. Awaab’s Law, inspired by the tragic death of toddler Awaab Ishak, will now apply to private rentals—requiring landlords to fix serious hazards within legally defined timeframes.
In a major step towards equality, it will become illegal to discriminate against tenants receiving benefits or with children, ensuring fairer access to housing. The Act also bans rental bidding wars, prohibiting landlords and agents from soliciting or accepting offers above the advertised rent.
Local authorities will gain expanded enforcement powers to uphold these standards, including stronger investigatory tools and mandatory reporting of enforcement activity—ensuring accountability throughout the sector.
“For decades, the scales have been tipped against tenants,” said Preet Kaur Gill. “This historic Act changes that. It puts power, fairness, and decency back into the hands of renters who for too long have been at the mercy of an unbalanced system.”
Gill added that she will be closely monitoring how ministers implement these reforms in the coming weeks to ensure the law delivers real change on the ground.
With this sweeping reform, the Renters’ Rights Act promises to make Britain’s rental market fairer, safer, and more transparent—marking a decisive shift towards justice for millions of households.