The Renters’ Rights Act: A New Era for the Private Rental Sector
At The Norfolk Agents, we’re here to help you navigate major changes to the Private Rental Sector. With the Renters’ Rights Act now law, we will be providing a series of blogs to break down what’s changing and how the new rules could affect landlords and tenants across Norfolk.
The Private Rental Sector in England is experiencing its biggest shake-up since the 1980s. Against a backdrop of rising living costs, an ageing population and an ongoing shortage of housing, wide-ranging reforms are being introduced with the aim of providing greater security of tenure for tenants, while still balancing the needs of landlords.
The Renters’ Rights Act received Royal Assent on Monday 27th October 2025 and is now officially law. Importantly, the changes won’t happen overnight. The legislation will be introduced in phases, giving landlords and letting agents time to understand the new requirements and adapt their practices accordingly.
Here at The Norfolk Agents, we know there is a huge amount of information to take in. To help make things clearer, we’ll be publishing a series of blogs between now and 1st May, breaking down the key changes and explaining how they may affect you and your tenancy.
Changes to eviction notices
We’re starting with one of the most talked-about reforms: the abolition of the Section 21 notice, often referred to as the “no-fault” eviction.
From 1st May, landlords and agents will no longer be able to use Section 21 to regain possession of a property. Instead, a revised Section 8 process must be followed, using a new notice known as Form 3A. To serve notice, landlords must now rely on at least one specific legal ground for possession.
The intention behind this change is to provide tenants with greater stability and peace of mind. However, it’s important to note that landlords can still regain possession where there is a valid reason to do so. These include, for example, rent arrears, selling the property, or the landlord (or a close family member) needing to move into the home.
It’s also worth noting that, in certain circumstances, tenants will benefit from a one-year protected period. This means that for specific grounds under the new Section 8 process, landlords will be unable to serve notice within the first 12 months of a tenancy, further reinforcing security during the early stages of occupation.
Each reason for possession falls into a defined group of grounds, with different notice periods depending on the circumstances. These can range from immediate action in serious cases, up to four months’ notice for other situations.
If you’d like to explore the full list of grounds for possession and understand the notice periods that apply to each, you can find further guidance here:
As always, if you’re unsure how these changes may affect you, our team at The Norfolk Agents is on hand to offer clear, practical advice. Keep an eye on our blog for the next instalment in this series.
