Renters' Rights Act Timeline 2026–2028

Dates for landlords

Date	Change	Status
1 May 2026	Section 21 abolished; all tenancies periodic; rent rises once a year by section 13 notice; bans on rental bidding and more than a month's rent in advance; right to request a pet; maximum civil penalty £40,000	in force
31 May 2026	Existing verbal tenancies needed a written summary of terms	passed
15 December 2026	Landlord database opens; first regional window (West Midlands)	planned
14 March to 14 November 2027	Regional registration deadlines	planned
2028	Landlord Ombudsman membership expected to become mandatory; fee to be confirmed	expected
2035	Decent Homes Standard applies to private rented homes	policy statement

Source: the government's implementation roadmap, last updated 20 October 2026 (GOV.UK), and the Decent Homes Standard policy statement (GOV.UK).

What the database changes in practice

• Before marketing a property, you'll need active entries and must show the ID numbers in written adverts.
• Before seeking possession on most grounds, you'll need to be registered.
• Every year, you'll renew each property entry and keep certificates up to date.

Still to be confirmed

Awaab's Law timetable for private rented homes, the Ombudsman's fee and administrator, and the final version of the database regulations. We update this page when each is published.