How West Suffolk is supporting landlords ahead of Renters Reform

24 Feb 2026

The biggest change in decades to the rights of private rent tenants is coming and landlords of West Suffolk homes are being urged to ensure that they are ready.

The first phase of Renters Rights Act comes into effect on 1 May with changes that are designed to provide tenants with greater security over their tenancy. Other changes to improve housing standards are set to follow in later phases.

The Act introduces a duty on councils to investigate and enforce breaches and minimum starting levels for fines. Landlords found in breach of the act can be fined up to £40,000 per offence. This is designed to act as a deterrent to rogue landlords, drive up professionalism in the sector and ensure a fairer market for those landlords that take their responsibilities seriously.

As the local housing authority, West Suffolk Council will be responsible for investigating breaches in the district. It has been working to try to ensure landlords are ready for the changes and to highlight how it can support them.

The changes that will take effect from 1 May are:

Tenancy

•    The end of section 21 no fault evictions – it will be illegal for a private sector landlord to evict a tenant without a specific reason such as selling the property, rent arrears, anti-social behaviour, or because a landlord wants the property to live in either for themselves or a close family member. 
•    The end of fixed term tenancies – tenancies will be a rolling contract between the landlord and tenant. The tenant can end the tenancy by giving two months’ notice (or less with the agreement of the landlord). Landlords will need to issue the tenants with a section 8 notice, using one or more of the grounds for possession. They will need to give the tenants the right notice period. In many cases this is four months, although for some grounds it is shorter. 
•    All future tenancies will need to have a written tenancy agreement, that includes specific information. Existing tenancies do not need to be re-written but landlords must provide a copy of a government produced information sheet, explaining how the reforms affect their tenancy. Where existing tenancy agreements are verbal, landlords must provide a written document that covers the required information.
•    Landlords and agents cannot discriminate against tenants who have children or claim benefits. Tenant selection can only be based on financial suitability.
•    Tenants can ask to keep a pet, and the landlord can only say no if they have a good reason.

Rent

•    Landlords can only ask for one month’s rent in advance and are not allowed to accept more than the advertised rent (to end rental bidding).
•    Increases to rent can only happen once a year and the landlord has to give two months’ notice.

Further information on the tenancy reforms can be found at Guide to the Renters’ Rights Act - GOV.UK

Cllr Richard O’Driscoll, Cabinet Member for Housing said: “We recognise that private sector landlords play an important role in how we house residents across our communities in West Suffolk.

“As part of Safe Suffolk Renters, we have been working to try to ensure as many of our landlords as possible are aware and are ready for these huge changes.

“We’ve also been working hard to ensure landlords are aware of the direct support that we can provide them and tenants. That includes the work of our West Suffolk Lettings Partnership which is currently managing around 130 properties on behalf of some 80 landlords. That service recently received praise from Hazells lettings agents both for its professionalism, knowledge and understanding of the sector alongside the peace of mind and security it can offer to landlords. I would strongly urge any landlords in our area who are thinking of selling up, to first look into the support that the West Suffolk Lettings Partnership can provide them.”

Landlords can find out more about the West Suffolk Lettings Partnership on our webpage. 

They can also find other support, guidance and information on the Safe Suffolk Renters website. 

---