Hi,
A quick and important correction to the first issue of The Rent Letter.
When that issue went out, it treated Section 21 "no-fault" evictions and fixed-term tenancies as if they were still the current law, and suggested the big changes were "still expected to land." That framing was out of date — the law had already changed — and I'd rather fix it straight away than let a wrong impression sit.
Here's the accurate position for England:
The Renters' Rights Act 2025 is now in force — it took effect on 1 May 2026.
Section 21 "no-fault" evictions are abolished. A landlord can't serve a new Section 21 notice. To seek possession now, they need a valid legal reason (a Section 8 ground). An older Section 21 only still counts if it was served on or before 30 April 2026.
Fixed-term assured shorthold tenancies (ASTs) are gone. Tenancies in England are now periodic assured tenancies — you can stay as long as you like unless a valid ground applies, and you can end the tenancy by giving two months' notice.
The good news: this is more protection for you, not less.
Everything else in that first issue still stands — the deposit-protection rules, the tribunal award example, and how Section 13 rent-increase notices work are all still accurate. It was only the "Section 21 is still coming" framing that needed correcting.
Thanks for reading, and for holding me to a high standard. From here on, everything you get from The Rent Letter reflects the law as it actually stands today.
— The Rent Letter
From Backroom Press
The Rent Letter is general information, not legal advice. For a specific dispute, Shelter England (0808 800 4444) and Citizens Advice are free.