The Renters’ Rights Act is the biggest shake-up of the private rented sector in a generation, and it is now in force. For Cambridge landlords — letting to a deep, year-round pool of students, academics and professionals — the changes matter, because the city’s rental market is large, active and closely watched. This is a plain-English guide to what has changed and what it means for you. It is general information rather than legal advice, so take professional advice on your own situation.
The headline change is the end of Section 21 “no-fault” evictions. You can no longer ask a tenant to leave simply by serving notice without a reason. To regain possession you now need a valid legal ground — for example that you intend to sell the property or move in yourself, or that the tenant is in breach of the tenancy — and you must follow the correct process with proper evidence. In practice this means planning ahead: if you may want the property back, understand the grounds that apply and the notice they require well before you need them.
Fixed-term assured shorthold tenancies have been replaced by periodic assured tenancies that roll on month to month. Tenants can leave by giving notice, while you can only end the tenancy on one of the valid grounds. For a student-heavy market like Cambridge, where the academic year has long shaped fixed twelve-month lets, this is a real change to how the cycle works, and it is worth thinking through how it affects your own properties and turnover.
The Act introduces a private rented sector database that landlords are required to register on, intended to raise standards and transparency across the sector. There are also clearer rules on rent increases: rents can generally be raised once a year through the proper statutory process, and tenants have a route to challenge an increase they believe is above the market rate. Setting a fair, realistic rent from the outset — and reviewing it sensibly — matters more than ever; our guide to maximising your rental yield in Cambridge looks at getting that balance right.
Tenants now have a stronger right to request a pet, which a landlord cannot unreasonably refuse, though you can require pet insurance to cover potential damage. Standards are rising too, with a clear expectation that rented homes are kept in good repair and free of serious hazards, and prompt action on problems such as damp and mould is firmly expected rather than optional. Keeping on top of condition and responding quickly to disrepair is now central to being a compliant landlord.
None of this changes the core compliance you already know: a valid Gas Safety Certificate, a current Electrical Installation Condition Report, an in-date EPC meeting the required standard, working alarms, a protected deposit and Right to Rent checks. The Act adds to that framework rather than replacing it. The government’s private renting guidance is a good reference, and our 2026 landlord compliance checklist pulls the essentials together. If keeping up with it all feels daunting, a good letting agent will keep you the right side of the rules.
The Renters’ Rights Act reshapes how tenancies work: no more Section 21, periodic tenancies, a landlord database, new rent-increase rules and stronger tenant protections. For Cambridge landlords the fundamentals still hold — a well-run, compliant, fairly priced property in a city where tenant demand rarely dips remains a sound investment. If you would like a Cambridge team that keeps you compliant and your property performing, call our lettings team on 01223 323 130 or get in touch.
Yes, but only on valid grounds through the correct process — for instance if you intend to sell or move in, or where the tenant is in breach. You will need proper evidence and must follow the required notice procedure.
It came into force on 1 May 2026 and applies to the private rented sector in England, including Cambridge. If you let property here, the changes apply to your tenancies.
Tenants have a stronger right to request a pet, and you cannot unreasonably refuse. You can, however, require the tenant to hold pet insurance to cover any damage. Each request should be considered on its merits.
