Overview
- The law, which took effect Friday, May 1, abolishes Section 21 no‑fault evictions in England and shifts all private rentals to rolling tenancies that can end only on specific legal grounds.
- Tenant safeguards now active include rent rises limited to once a year with two months’ notice and a clear right to challenge increases at a tribunal.
- Landlords must give every tenant the government’s official information sheet by May 31 or face local‑council fines starting at £7,000 per property.
- Councils are running landlord training and gaining stronger civil penalty powers up to £40,000 for serious or repeat breaches, while Trading Standards will enforce the ban on rent bidding and limits on advance rent to one month.
- Following last week’s pre‑ban rush of Section 21 notices, agents report some owners weighing sales, and lawyers warn mixed‑use property deals now need tighter checks because regaining possession can take longer under Section 8.