The way landlords rent out properties in England has changed.
The Renters’ Rights Act 2025 introduced significant changes to the private rental market, with the first major reforms coming into effect on 1 May 2026.
If you own a second property or currently rent a property to tenants, you may be wondering what the changes mean for you and whether traditional letting is still the right option for your property.
In this blog, we look at some of the key changes and what property owners may want to consider going forward.
What is the Renters’ Rights Act?
The Renters’ Rights Act 2025 introduced a range of changes designed to give tenants greater security and strengthen standards across the private rented sector in England. You can read the full government guidance for landlords on the GOV.UK website. Some of the most significant changes came into effect on 1 May 2026 and affect both new and existing tenancies. For landlords, this means understanding a new set of rules and considering how they affect the way you manage and let your property.
What has changed for landlords?
See the latest GOV.UK guidance on the Renters’ Rights Act.
There are a number of changes within the Act, but some of the most important for everyday property owners include:
The end of Section 21 evictions
Landlords can no longer use Section 21 to regain possession of a property without providing a specific reason.
Instead, landlords wishing to regain possession need to use the relevant possession grounds and follow the correct process.
A move to rolling tenancies
Most existing assured shorthold tenancies have moved to assured periodic tenancies.
New assured tenancies are also periodic rather than having a fixed end date. This means they continue on a rolling basis until the tenant chooses to leave or the landlord has a valid reason to regain possession.
Changes to rent increases
There are also new rules around how and when landlords can increase rent.
Landlords can generally increase the rent once a year and must follow the correct process when doing so.
Greater responsibilities for landlords
The Act is part of a wider change in the private rental market, with increased requirements around how properties are managed and how landlords meet their responsibilities.
Further reforms are also being introduced in phases, so landlords will need to continue keeping up to date with their obligations.
What does this mean if you own a rental property?
For many landlords, traditional letting will continue to be the right choice.
However, the changes have understandably led some property owners to take a fresh look at how they use their properties.
If you own a second property, you may be considering questions such as:
- Do I still want a long-term tenant?
- How much involvement do I want in managing the property?
- Could my property generate income in a different way?
- Would I prefer greater flexibility over how my property is used?
- What other options are available to me?
There isn’t one answer that’s right for every property owner, but it can be useful to understand the alternatives before deciding what works best for you.
Could serviced accommodation be an alternative?
For some properties, serviced accommodation can provide an alternative to traditional long-term letting. Rather than renting the property to one tenant under a traditional tenancy, serviced accommodation provides fully furnished accommodation for guests staying for shorter periods.
At Silk Property Management, our properties are commonly used by working professionals, contractors, project teams, insurance relocation clients and families requiring temporary accommodation. For property owners, this can provide greater flexibility and the potential for higher income in the right location.
However, serviced accommodation isn’t suitable for every property, and there are still legal, insurance, mortgage, planning and other requirements that property owners need to consider. That’s why it’s important to understand whether the model is genuinely suitable for your property before making any changes.
Does serviced accommodation mean managing the property yourself?
It doesn’t have to.
Running serviced accommodation involves managing bookings, communicating with guests, arranging cleaning, maintaining the property and making sure everything is ready for each stay. With a fully managed serviced accommodation service, all of this can be taken care of on your behalf.
At Silk Property Management, our property management service includes:
- Marketing and listing the property
- Managing bookings
- Guest communication
- Professional cleaning
- Linen management
- Regular property checks
- Maintenance coordination
- Monthly reporting and payments
This allows property owners to explore an alternative way of generating income from their property without having to manage the day-to-day operation themselves.
Is serviced accommodation right for every landlord?
No.
Traditional letting remains a good option for many property owners, and serviced accommodation should only be considered where the property, location and local demand make it commercially viable. Factors such as the size and layout of the property, its location, nearby employers, transport links and demand for temporary accommodation can all influence how well it is likely to perform. We believe it’s important to look at each property individually rather than suggesting serviced accommodation is automatically the better option.
Understanding your options
The Renters’ Rights Act has changed some important aspects of traditional letting in England, and it’s understandable that property owners may be reviewing what those changes mean for them. You don’t necessarily need to change the way you let your property. But if the changes have prompted you to consider your options, it may be worth understanding whether serviced accommodation could provide a suitable alternative.
Find out if your property could be suitable
If you own a property and are considering alternatives to traditional letting, we offer a free, no-obligation property assessment. We’ll look at your property, its location and local demand to give you an honest view of whether serviced accommodation could be suitable and what it could potentially achieve.
Request your free property assessment to find out whether serviced accommodation could be the right option for your property.
This article is intended as general information only and does not constitute legal advice. Landlords should check the latest government guidance and seek professional advice where needed.
