Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department made of the potential impact of the Renters’ Rights Act 2026 on tenants with fixed-term tenancy agreements entered into before the Act’s commencement where such agreements contained no (a) break clause and (b) requirement to give notice at the end of the fixed term, prior to the introduction of that Act to Parliament.

From 1 May 2026, the new tenancy system provided for by the Renters’ Rights Act applies to all private tenancies.

As such, all tenancies are now periodic and it will no longer be possible to agree a fixed rental term or create a tenancy with an end date or break clause, and any existing terms of these types no longer apply.

My Department engaged extensively with stakeholders from across the sector when developing the reforms in question and an Impact Assessment of the legislation was published.