Updated October 2026. The Act's measures are being brought into force in stages; check the current position with your letting agent or solicitor.
The Renters' Rights Act is the most significant reform of private renting in England in a generation. For buyers planning to let London property, it changes how tenancies, possession and rent increases work.
The main changes
- No more "no-fault" evictions. Section 21 is abolished. Landlords need a specified ground to regain possession, such as selling, moving in, or serious or repeated rent arrears.
- Periodic tenancies. Assured tenancies become periodic rather than fixed-term; tenants can leave with notice.
- Rent increases. Rent can be increased once a year through a formal process, and tenants can challenge an increase they believe is above market rent.
- Standards and registration. A Decent Homes Standard is being applied to private rentals, with a landlord database and an ombudsman for private landlords.
What it means for buyers
Letting becomes more regulated and less flexible. That affects running costs, the importance of a professional managing agent, and how you plan an exit — selling with a sitting tenant is different from selling vacant. Modern new-build stock may find the condition standards easier to meet, but compliance is never automatic: it depends on how the property is managed.
When CM2 assesses a property for a buyer who intends to let, it looks at realistic achievable rent, tenant demand, running costs and management arrangements under the current rules — with rental figures labelled as estimates.
CM2 operates on the buyer side while receiving compensation from participating developer partners, including Aldar Properties and London Square. Buyers are not charged a fee by CM2. This article is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Figures may be indicative, availability can change and projected yields are not guaranteed.