Help shape new Renters’ Rights Policy – your voice matters
Thursday, 5 March 2026
We're inviting private landlords, letting agents and tenants to have their say on a new Renters' Rights Act Policy.
The policy is designed to strengthen protection for tenants and ensure fair, consistent enforcement for landlords and letting agents.
These changes give local councils stronger powers to act against landlords who fail to follow the rules, helping ensure rented homes are safe, well-managed and fair for everyone.
Our new policy, which will come into effect on 1 May, aims to explain how these powers will be used. Before it is introduced, we're running a four-week public consultation to gather feedback on whether the policy is clear and easy to understand.
Councillor Steven Watkins, our Executive Member for Assets, Business and Housing, said:
These reforms give us stronger tools to protect tenants and ensure the private rented sector is fair, safe and well‑managed for everyone. The aim of this consultation is to ensure our policy is clear and understandable. We are encouraging private landlords, letting agents and tenants to share their views.
The policy benefits tenants by:
- preventing unfair evictions
- banning discrimination in lettings
- stopping “rent bidding”
- improving safety, licensing and housing standards
Landlords will benefit from clearer guidance on their responsibilities and what the law requires, helping them comply with the rules and avoid penalties. The policy also recognises differences between small-scale and professional landlords, with penalties scaled appropriately for repeated or deliberate breaches.
Key changes include:
- no-fault evictions are no longer allowed, with fines of up to £40,000 for serious breaches
- discrimination against tenants with children or those receiving benefits is now a punishable offence
- rent must be stated in adverts, and "rent bidding" is prohibited
- penalties will range from £7,000 for lower-level breaches to £40,000 for serious safety or legal offences