Private renters in Thurrock will benefit from stronger protections under the new Renters’ Rights Act.
The Act strengthens private tenant rights, improves housing standards, and cracks down on poor landlord practices. It gives renters more confidence to raise concerns about unsafe or unhealthy homes.
Key changes:
No-Fault Evictions Banned: Landlords must use valid specific grounds to evict, with 4 months' notice required if they are selling or moving in.
Rolling Tenancies: Fixed-term tenancies are replaced by periodic, rolling agreements. Tenants can end the tenancy at any time with 2 months' notice.
Rent Control Measures: Rents can only be increased once per year, and they must follow the market rate. Tenants can challenge unreasonable hikes.
Rental Bidding Wars Banned: Landlords must list an asking price and are prohibited from encouraging or accepting higher bids.
Pets & Discrimination: Landlords cannot unreasonably refuse a tenant's request for pets. It is illegal to refuse to rent to families with children or those on benefits.
Information Rights: Tenants must receive a Mandatory Information Sheet Mandatory Information Sheet. at the start of a new tenancy (by 31 May 2026 for existing tenancies), explaining their rights.
Thurrock Council will play a key role:
- Investigating complaints about rented homes
- Enforcing legal standards and taking action against rogue landlords
- Issuing fines where landlords fail to meet their responsibilities
- Supporting residents to understand their rights
The focus will be on protecting tenants while working with responsible landlords to raise standards across Thurrock.
Around one in five households in England are privately rented. The new law is designed to give renters greater security and protection.
The legislation which comes into force in May covers the private rented sector for all of England. It is separate from the Council’s recently introduced Selective Licensing Scheme, which aims to improve privately rented homes in the borough.
Further national changes, to be introduced later this year, include a national landlord database so tenants can check who they are renting from, and a new Landlord Ombudsman to help resolve disputes.
The changes being introduced on May 1 apply to landlords and tenants in the private rented sector.
However, in 2027, the Government plans to extend these new rules to cover housing associations and non-profit developers who provide social housing.
Residents at risk of homelessness who need advice or support, email Housingoptions@thurrock.gov.uk
For regulatory / enforcement issues (e.g. landlord compliance, property conditions, illegal eviction), email private.housing@thurrock.gov.uk
Find out more the Renters’ Right Act and how it affects you: gov.uk/rentingischanging