What the Renters’ Reform Really Means For London Landlords

Key Changes In Practice

• Upfront bidding ends, meaning an experienced team with a proven track record, strong negotiation tactics and a deep understanding of what homes truly achieve in the current market will be crucial to securing the best possible outcome.
• Section 21 ends, meaning landlords will rely on updated Section 8 grounds to gain possession, still entirely workable for genuine reasons like sale, moving back in, or breach.
• Tenancies become periodic, giving tenants greater flexibility and putting more emphasis on good management.
• Rent reviews limited to once a year, aligning with what most quality landlords and managing agents already do.
• A Private Rented Sector Ombudsman will streamline disputes (a positive for professional landlords), and new minimum standards will be phased in.

Why This Can Work For Landlords

For serious London landlords, particularly the ones we work with, the reforms actually reinforce a market where good practice wins.

1. High-quality homes will stand out even more
   In prime neighbourhoods, well-kept, well-presented homes already attract long-term tenants. With higher national standards coming, that advantage grows, not shrinks.
2. Long-term tenancies become the norm
   Quality tenants staying longer means fewer voids, lower turnover costs, and more predictable income. London’s best rentals already operate this way.
3. Clearer processes reduce disputes
   A single ombudsman prevents small issues from escalating, leading to faster, fairer resolutions – which benefits reliable landlords.
4. The end of bidding wars brings stability
   With upfront bidding now ending, sensible and transparent pricing becomes essential, and the value of a skilled agent becomes even more pronounced. An experienced team with a proven track record, strong negotiation tactics and a deep understanding of what homes truly achieve in the current market will be crucial to securing the best possible outcome. Pricing correctly from the outset matters more than ever.
5. Genuine possession routes remain
   Landlords can still recover a property to sell, move in, or address serious breaches. The mechanism changes, but the rights remain intact.

What Tenants Gain, and Why That Helps Landlords Too

A more secure, predictable rental environment doesn’t just benefit renters; it builds healthier tenancies overall.

• Tenants settle for longer.
• Maintenance conversations become more constructive.
• Turnover reduces – and the wear, tear and administrative load that come with it.

Stable homes create stable income.

When Will This All Take Effect?

Although the Act passed in October 2025, the practical changes will phase in over the next 12–18 months. Periodic tenancies will become standard from 1st May, with earlier adjustments to the HMO sector beginning from 27th December.

• The ombudsman will launch first.
• New tenancy structures will follow, affecting all active ASTs regardless of start date from May 1st.
• Most landlords will feel the shift from mid-2026 onward.