A senior lawyer at a south coast legal firm has urged landlords and lettings agents to ‘get ahead of what is to come’ as the countdown begins to a major reform of the private rented sector.

Conor Maher, Senior Associate and specialist in Dispute Resolution and Regulatory Law at Ellis Jones Solicitors, made the call after the government published a ‘roadmap’ for the phased implementation of the long-awaited Renters’ Rights Act.

The legislation, which received formal Royal Assent in October 2025, will introduce sweeping changes to the law around private tenancies next year.

Key among them is the abolition, from 1 May 2026, of fixed-term tenancies and so-called ‘no-fault’ evictions, a means for landlords to gain possession under Section 21 of the Housing Act 1988. Minimum notice periods for evictions in respect of rent arrears and other grounds will be extended from the same date in favour of tenants.

Conor, a Bournemouth-based Solicitor Advocate, said:

“While other aspects of the legislative packages will be phased in later, it is essential that landlords understand that 1 May 2026 is now the fixed date as regards both the end of Section 21 and the start of a longer eviction process."

“Our strong advice to all landlords and lettings agents is to review tenancy agreements to ensure continuing compliance with the law. There is a clear need to understand their obligations to ensure no breaches occur and the scope for legal liability is minimised."

“There are potential criminal penalties that could apply, with fines for up to £40,000. Landlords need to have systems in place to protect themselves from the risk of an accidental breach.”

The new legislation is widely seen as heralding a significant shift towards tenant security, regulatory oversight and the placing of greater responsibilities on landlords and agents.

As well as the changes to the rules around evictions, a new Private Rented Sector database is to be rolled out from late 2026 which is expected to include an annual registration fee for landlords and agents. And an Ombudsman redress scheme is envisaged, with the government mooting introduction in 2028. Conor added:

“Landlords need to get ahead of what is to come so they can minimise future disruption and potential legal exposure.”

As it has done on several occasions before, Ellis Jones plans to host a seminar for landlords and lettings agents to discuss the legal changes. It will be held around the time of the law taking effect in April next year.