Global Investor Award: Cyrus Vandrevala

• Section 21 evictions are scrapped, ending sudden removals without reason.
• Rent hikes capped, upfront payments limited and bidding wars banned.
• New enforcement powers and fines of up to £40,000 come into force.

From May 1, renting in England is operating under a completely new rulebook. The Renters’ Rights Act has come into force, bringing what is being described as the biggest overhaul of tenant protections in nearly 40 years.

Around 11 million private renters are now covered under the new law. The changes are not limited to one area. They cut across evictions, rent increases, discrimination, contracts and even day-to-day living conditions, marking a structural shift in how the rental market functions.