11 million private tenants in England are now protected by the biggest increase to renters’ rights in over 40 years. In Crewe & Nantwich, these changes will affect 9,832 privately rented households. 

Labour’s Renter’s Rights Act is the most significant package of reforms to the Private Rented Sector (PRS) in over 40 years to provide greater security and stability for more than 11 million private renters. 

Millions of people in England live day in, day out with the knowledge that they and their families could be uprooted from their home with little notice and minimal justification. 

While the majority of landlords provide a good service, too many private renters are stuck in poor quality, insecure homes as costs soar. 

The Tories promised action but failed completely. Worst of all, they bowed to vested interest on their benches by watering down their commitment to end ‘no-fault’ evictions. 

This Labour Government has achieved in six months what the Tories managed in four and a half years, and then some. 

We have acted where the Tories have failed to make renting fairer, more secure and more affordable, by banning no-fault evictions, ending bidding wars and extending Awaab’s Law to protect private tenants. 

How have renters’ rights improved? 

1. No more Section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions – private landlords can no longer evict tenants without a valid reason.
2. Goodbye to fixed contracts – all tenancies in the private rented sector will roll on from month to month or week to week (depending on your arrangement) with no end date, giving renters more flexibility. Tenants can end them with two months’ notice.
3. Fairer rent rules – landlords can only raise rent once a year and renters can challenge unfair hikes.
4. No more bidding wars – landlords must stick to no more than the advertised rent price.
5. One month’s rent upfront, max – landlordscan’t ask for more. 
6. No discrimination –it’s now illegal to refuse tenants just because they receive benefits or have kids. 
7. Pets welcome – renters can now ask to live with apet and landlords must reasonably consider it. 

Section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions 

Private landlord possession claims using the Section 21 process that are going through the courts on the commencement date will proceed as normal. 

After 1 May 2026, the courts will still be able to process Section 21 possessions that are ongoing, for example: 

• if a private landlord served their tenant with a Section 21 notice before 1 May 2026, any court possession proceedings must be made in line with the usual rules and no later than 31 July 2026, when using the Section 21 court process.
• after this date (31 July 2026), the landlord will not be able to use the Section 21 process and must use the new grounds for possession.

If any constituents have questions about their new rights, or how to enforce them, please drop me an email at [email protected]