Renters’ Rights Bill: Approved By Parliament

The time for amendments has ended, we know the final form of the Renters’ Rights Bill, just not when it will be implemented.

What’s just happened?

On 14 October 2025, the House of Lords voted on a series of final amendments to the Bill. The Government won every vote, meaning its position on key clauses held firm. Here are the headlines:

❌ 3-Week Pet Deposit Rejected

A proposed amendment to allow landlords to take an additional pet deposit (up to 3 weeks’ rent) was defeated. The five-week cap on total tenancy deposits remains in place, even when pets are allowed.

⚠️ Implication: Pet damage will have to be absorbed within existing deposit limits.

❌ 12-Month Ban on Re-Letting Remains

An amendment to reduce the re-letting ban period (Ground 1A) from 12 to 6 months was also rejected.

🏠 You’ll still be restricted from re-letting a property for 12 months after recovering possession to sell.

❌ Student Tenancy Clause Narrowed

An attempt to expand Ground 4A to cover student flats and smaller non-HMO setups was rejected. The clause remains limited to HMOs let exclusively to full-time students (3+ tenants)

🎓 Important for landlords with mixed student stock or non-HMO properties.

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🏁 Where are we now?

• 22 October 2025: The House of Commons agreed to all Lords’ amendments.

• The Bill is now awaiting Royal Assent, which is expected in the coming weeks.

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📆 When will the new rules come into force?

The Government has not yet confirmed commencement dates, but indications suggest a phased rollout from Spring 2026.
It’s likely that the ban on section 21 evictions will be one of the first parts of the legislation to be implimented.