From Friday 1st May, the Labour Government’s transformative Renter’s Rights Act will come into force, introducing major changes designed to strengthen protections for tenants and improve standards across the private rented sector.

Millions of renters across England, including those in around 12,000 private rental homes in Manchester Withington, are now benefiting from the biggest strengthening of renters’ rights in over 40 years, as the Renters’ Rights Act comes into force.

Over 12,000 private rental homes in Manchester Withington will now have greater security and protection under the new law, which delivers long-awaited reforms to make renting fairer, safer and more secure.

The landmark changes include a ban on Section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions, ending the practice of tenants being evicted without a reason. This will help families put down roots and reduce the risk of homelessness.

Housing Secretary Steve Reed said:

“Renters have been living at the mercy of rogue landlords and in fear of losing their home for too long. We are putting a stop to this with historic changes that give renters the security they deserve – marking the beginning of a new era for private renters.”

The new law also introduces tougher enforcement powers for councils, with fines of up to £40,000 for landlords who break the rules, ensuring that rogue operators can no longer evade accountability.

Key measures that renters will benefit from include:

• Ending Section 21 “no-fault” evictions and moving to periodic tenancies
• Balancing possession rules to protect tenants while supporting responsible landlords
• Preventing “backdoor evictions” by allowing tenants to challenge excessive rent increases
• Introducing a landlord ombudsman to deliver quick, binding dispute resolution
• Launching a Private Rented Sector database to improve transparency and compliance
• Strengthening tenants’ rights to request pets, with appropriate safeguards such as insurance
• Applying the Decent Homes Standard and Awaab’s Law to improve property quality and safety
• Banning discrimination against renters on benefits or with children
• Ending rental bidding wars above advertised prices
• Increasing enforcement powers and penalties for rogue landlords

These changes represent a step forward in creating a fairer, more secure rental market for everyone.

For more detail, including top tips for renters, visit Martin Lewis’ MoneySavingExpert website here   https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/latesttip/