The Renters' Rights Act 2025: What It Means for Plymouth Landlords
There is no getting around it. The Renters' Rights Act 2025 is the biggest shake-up to the private rented sector in nearly 40 years. It gained Royal Assent on 27 October 2025, and from 1 May 2026 the rules began changing.
If you own rental property in Plymouth, or you are thinking about buying your first investment, you need to know what is coming and, more importantly, why Plymouth remains a very good place to be a landlord.
So what has actually changed?
The headline change is the abolition of Section 21 "no fault" evictions. From 1 May 2026, landlords can no longer ask a tenant to leave simply because they want the property back. Possession is now only possible through specific legal grounds, for example where the landlord wants to sell, move a family member in, or where the tenant has breached the tenancy.
Fixed-term assured shorthold tenancies are also gone. All tenancies have become rolling periodic contracts, giving tenants greater security and the freedom to give two months' notice to leave at any point.
Other key changes include:
Landlords must consider any tenant request for a pet and can only refuse on reasonable grounds. You can require the tenant to take out pet insurance to cover potential damage.
- Rental bidding wars are banned. The asking rent is the asking rent.
- Discrimination against tenants with children or those in receipt of benefits is prohibited.
- All landlords will need to register on a new national Private Rented Sector Database, rolling out in late 2026. Registration will be required to use certain possession grounds.
- Awaab's Law, which requires landlords to investigate and fix damp and mould within strict timeframes, will apply to the private rented sector in a future phase.
What does this mean for Plymouth investors?
Honestly, less than the headlines might suggest, if you are already a good landlord.
Plymouth's rental market remains one of the most compelling in the South West. Average rents have risen from £692 per month in 2020 to £972 in 2025, a 40% increase, and analysts are projecting further growth of 3 to 4% through the remainder of the year. Supply remains tight, with the number of available rental homes declining slightly over the same period. Demand, driven by the university, the naval base, and Plymouth's growing reputation as a place to live and work, shows no signs of weakening.
The landlords who will feel the most pressure from these reforms are those who relied on Section 21 as a management shortcut, or those who have let compliance slide. If you have kept your property well, chosen tenants carefully, and maintained a professional relationship with the people living there, the Act changes very little about your day-to-day experience.
What it does change is the importance of getting things right from the start. Tenant selection, tenancy agreements, and ongoing management all matter more now. That is exactly where having a knowledgeable local agent in your corner makes a real difference.
We know Plymouth. We know which streets and property types attract the most reliable tenants, which areas are seeing the strongest rental growth, and how to handle the compliance side so you do not have to worry about it. If you want to talk through what the Act means for your portfolio, or if you are looking at your first investment purchase, get in touch. We are genuinely happy to help.
