The Renters’ Rights Act marks one of the most important changes to housing law in a generation. By ending Section 21 ‘no‑fault’ evictions, it gives millions of renters more stability, more time to plan their next steps, and better protection from landlords who are not committed to providing safe, long‑term homes.

A major step forward for preventing homelessness

For years, Section 21 has been one of the leading causes of homelessness in England. It allowed landlords to evict tenants with no reason and as little as two months’ notice.

For many families, that short window simply wasn’t enough time to find somewhere new – especially in areas with high rents, limited supply, or long waiting lists for social housing.

The Renters’ Rights Act changes this. By abolishing Section 21, it removes one of the biggest drivers of housing instability and gives people a fairer chance to stay secure in their homes.

The scale of Section 21 evictions – and why reform was urgent

Recent data shows just how many people have been affected by no‑fault evictions:

9,457 households in England were evicted by bailiffs under Section 21 in the past year – a 49% rise on the previous year.

Since the government first committed to ending Section 21 in 2019, more than 26,000 households have been removed from their homes this way.

Landlords started 30,230 Section 21 court claims in 2023 alone – a 28% increase in a single year.

Since 2019, courts have recorded over 100,000 Section 21 repossession claims.

In the latest homelessness statistics, 6,630 households were recorded as threatened with homelessness after receiving a Section 21 notice.

These figures show the scale of insecurity renters have faced – and why ending no‑fault evictions is such a powerful homelessness‑prevention measure.

What the Renters’ Rights Act changes

The Act introduces a set of reforms designed to make renting safer, fairer and more stable:

Abolition of Section 21 – landlords must now give a valid reason to end a tenancy.

Rolling periodic tenancies – replacing fixed‑term contracts with open‑ended tenancies that give renters more flexibility.

Longer notice periods – in most cases, landlords must now give four months’ notice if they need the property back.

Limits on rent increases – rents can only rise once a year, and tenants can challenge unfair increases.

Protection against discrimination – landlords can no longer refuse tenants because they have children or receive benefits.

A new Decent Homes Standard – raising the quality of private rented homes and strengthening enforcement against rogue landlords.

Altogether, these changes will affect around 11 million renters across England.

How ending Section 21 helps prevent homelessness

Removing no‑fault evictions gives people:

• More time to find a new home if they need to move.
• Greater stability, especially for families with children.
• Protection from sudden, forced moves that can push people into homelessness.
• A fairer relationship with landlords, where eviction must be justified.
• A chance to put down roots, build community connections and plan for the future.

For people already at risk of homelessness, this stability can be life‑changing.

A hopeful moment for renters and families

As a charity working every day with people experiencing homelessness, we are genuinely pleased to see renters gaining stronger rights and better protection.

The Renters’ Rights Act won’t solve every challenge in the housing system, but it removes one of the most damaging pressures facing people on low incomes or in insecure work.

• It means families can stay settled.
• It means people have a fairer chance to rebuild after crisis.
• And it means landlords who provide safe, long‑term homes are supported – while those who exploit insecurity are held to account.

This is a hopeful step forward, and one that will make a real difference to the people we support.

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Every day, we help people rebuild lives that were shattered by homelessness.

A small grant can cover essentials like ID, clothing, a phone, or the basics needed to move into a new home. These are often the things that make the difference between someone moving forward – or slipping into a cycle of homelessness.

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