Letting agents are being urged to help private landlords navigate the new legal framework coming into force Tenant Rights ActWith industry warnings that small landlords in particular will need support to adapt to the changes.
property ombudsman (TPO) cautioned that the scale of the reform will require practical guidance to effectively implement the new protections in the private rented sector.
TPO chief ombudsman Leslie Horton said support would be needed not only for landlords but also within the court system to prevent unexpected pressure points emerging when the law comes into effect.
He said: “This Act has the potential to positively transform the private rental sector for both tenants and landlords. This is once-in-a-generation legislation of real scope. In particular, the protections that will be provided to rented homes are truly unprecedented and we fully welcome them.
“There is often a misconception that what is good for tenants will be bad for landlords, or vice versa. However, we have found that in many cases, their interests align.
“Tenants want safe homes they can settle into, and landlords want reliable tenants who will stay for the long term. The Tenant Rights Act has the potential to address these shared goals.”
Horton said the reforms represent a significant change to the private rented sector, aimed at improving fairness and sustainability. He said the law also gives professional rental agents an important role in helping landlords adjust to the new requirements.
He said property ombudsman-Registered agents will be well-positioned to support landlords in meeting the new obligations under the new framework, including updated notice requirements and revised grounds for occupation.
Other measures in the law include a ban on discrimination against tenants with children, pets or those receiving benefits, limits on rent increases and a ban on landlords requesting more than one month’s rent in advance.
The reforms also extend notice periods, remove so-called “no fault” evictions, and restrict the circumstances in which landlords can demand tenants to leave the property.
The TPO, which has provided independent dispute resolution services since 1990, recorded a 58% increase in complaints between November 2025 and February 2026 compared to the same period a year earlier, which it attributed to greater awareness of tenant rights, described as a “tenants’ rights effect”.
Horton said the changes are intended to improve outcomes for both tenants and landlords, but he said smaller landlords may need additional guidance when the new system is introduced.
He added: “It is important that landlords are supported through this process, which means a sensible, phased implementation, which gives everyone in the private rental sector time to prepare. The changes will be implemented as mandatory, especially for landlords.
“Professional letting agents will also be instrumental in bridging this gap, providing landlords with the expertise and practical support they need to navigate the new regulatory landscape.
“With the appropriate support and guidance, we are confident that all parties will adapt to these changes successfully. The reforms provide an opportunity to strengthen the sector, and by ensuring landlords have access to professional advice and a clear implementation timeline, we can maintain a healthy supply of quality rental properties. This stability benefits everyone – landlords, tenants and the wider rental market.”
“Now that the initial roadmap has been released, there is more clarity about immediate amendments. Some of the more fundamental changes, such as the introduction of the decent homes standard, are estimated to take years to implement.
“There has to be a lot more consultation, because we can’t let people lose their homes during the recovery process because they are deemed sub-standard. That would be a perverse, unintended consequence.”
He also stressed that most landlords operate with integrity and want to provide a good experience to tenants. In such a situation, comprehensive reforms in their area will prove to be a boon for good landlords. Strong enforcement will be needed to ensure that bad landlords are dealt with appropriately.
Horton said: “Good landlords have nothing to fear from this. They already keep their properties in good repair and are responsive to tenants. Yet they’ve got people in the same market who clearly operate like slum housing, it’s not a fair playing field.
“Good landlords don’t want those bad actors in the sector. They want everyone working to the same high standards as them, so the move towards professionalisation of landlords is good for everyone.”