Am I entitled to redundancy pay?

You are entitled to statutory redundancy pay if you have worked for your employer for at least 2 continuous years. The amount depends on your age, length of service and weekly pay, capped at £751 per week.

What is unfair dismissal?

Unfair dismissal occurs when your employer dismisses you without a fair reason or without following a fair procedure. You need 2 years of service to claim, reducing to 6 months from January 2027.

When is statutory sick pay paid?

Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) is now paid from Day 1 of illness following the Employment Rights Act 2025. The current rate is £123.25 per week for up to 28 weeks.

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🏠 Housing & Tenancy Guide

Renting in 2026: Your Complete Housing Rights Guide

Private renter, social housing tenant, or thinking about your rights? This guide covers the Renters' Rights Act 2025, deposits, repairs, rent increases, and what to do if your landlord isn't playing fair.

✅ Last verified: July 2026📚 Sources: GOV.UK, Shelter, Renters' Rights Act 2025🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 England (Wales/Scotland vary)

⚖ Know Your Rights at a Glance

Section 21 abolished from 1 May 2026 — landlords in England can no longer evict without reason.
Deposit cap: 5 weeks' rent (6 weeks if annual rent exceeds £50,000). Must be protected within 30 days.
Rent increases: Maximum once per year with at least 2 months' notice via Section 13 process.
Repairs: Your landlord must keep the property in good repair. The Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018 applies to all tenancies.
Retaliatory eviction is illegal — if you raise a legitimate repair complaint, your landlord cannot respond by starting eviction proceedings.
Right to rent: Your landlord must check you have the right to rent in England before the tenancy starts.

⏰ Old Section 21 notices — final deadline 31 July 2026

Landlords who served a valid Section 21 notice before 1 May 2026 must have issued court proceedings by 31 July 2026. After this date, all pending Section 21 proceedings are invalid. If you have an old Section 21 notice, check whether proceedings were issued before 31 July.

🆕 Renters' Rights Act 2025 — Section 21 abolished from 1 May 2026

The Renters' Rights Act 2025 abolished Section 21 "no fault" evictions in England from 1 May 2026. Landlords must now use one of the specific Section 8 grounds to seek possession. This is the biggest change to private renting in decades.

Ending a tenancy — Section 8 grounds post-May 2026

Since Section 21 is abolished, landlords must now use Section 8 and prove a specific ground for possession. Key grounds include:

Ground	Type	Notice period
Rent arrears (2 months+)	Mandatory	4 weeks
Anti-social behaviour	Mandatory/discretionary	2 weeks – 1 month
Landlord wants to sell	Discretionary	2 months
Landlord or family wants to move in	Discretionary	2 months
Redevelopment	Discretionary	2 months

For discretionary grounds, the court has discretion whether to grant possession even if the ground is proven. This is stronger protection for tenants than under the old Section 21 regime.

Deposits

Your landlord must:

Protect your deposit in a government-approved scheme within 30 days of receiving it
Give you "prescribed information" about the scheme within 30 days
Return the deposit (or disputed portion) within 10 days of agreeing deductions

The maximum deposit is 5 weeks' rent (or 6 weeks if annual rent exceeds £50,000). If your landlord fails to protect the deposit, you can claim 1–3 times the deposit amount at court, and they cannot serve a valid Section 8 notice for rent arrears until the deposit is protected.

Repairs and habitability

Under the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018 (which applies to all residential tenancies), your home must be fit for human habitation throughout the tenancy. This covers:

Damp and mould
Structural problems
Inadequate heating
Unsafe electrical or gas installations
Infestations

Report all repairs to your landlord in writing and keep a copy. If repairs are not carried out in a reasonable time, you can report to your local council's housing team (who can issue improvement notices) or sue in the county court.

Rent increases

Under the Renters' Rights Act 2025, your landlord can only increase your rent:

Once per year
With at least 2 months' written notice
Only using the Section 13 process (a prescribed notice form)

If you believe the proposed rent is above market rent, you can challenge it at a First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) before the increase takes effect. The tribunal will set a fair market rent.

Get all repair reports in writing

Email your landlord or send a written letter. Keep copies. If repairs are ignored after a reasonable time, report to your local council.

Check your deposit is protected

Search on the three approved schemes: DPS, MyDeposits, and TDS. If it's not protected within 30 days of paying it, you may have a claim.

Challenge a rent increase you think is too high

You have until the date the increase takes effect to challenge at tribunal. Don't pay the increased rent while a challenge is pending without advice.

Get advice before leaving if you're being evicted

Contact Shelter or Citizens Advice immediately. An unlawful eviction or invalid notice may mean you don't have to leave.

Keep all tenancy documents

Your tenancy agreement, inventory, deposit protection certificate, prescribed information, and any correspondence with your landlord are all important.

Report illegal eviction immediately

Changing the locks, removing your belongings, or cutting off utilities to force you out is illegal. Call the police and contact Shelter urgently.

🏠 Check Your Housing Rights

Describe your situation and get guidance on your rights as a tenant under the Renters' Rights Act 2025.

Use the Free Checker →

Frequently asked questions

Can my landlord evict me without a reason now?

No — not in England since 1 May 2026. Section 21 is abolished. Your landlord must now use a specific Section 8 ground and prove it to a court to get a possession order.

My landlord hasn't protected my deposit — what can I do?

You can apply to the county court for a penalty of between 1 and 3 times the deposit amount. Your landlord also cannot serve a valid Section 8 rent arrears notice until the deposit is protected.

Can my landlord raise my rent whenever they want?

No. Under the Renters' Rights Act 2025, rent can only be increased once per year with at least 2 months' notice using the Section 13 process. You can challenge an increase at tribunal.

My landlord is ignoring my repair requests — what can I do?

Put your request in writing and give a reasonable deadline. If ignored, report to your local council's housing enforcement team. You can also take action in the county court for breach of the implied covenant of quiet enjoyment and the Homes Act.

What counts as illegal eviction?

Changing your locks without a court order, removing your belongings, cutting off utilities, or using threats or violence to make you leave are all illegal eviction tactics. Call the police and get legal advice immediately.

How much notice must my landlord give me to leave?

This depends on the Section 8 ground. Mandatory grounds for serious rent arrears: 4 weeks. Grounds for the landlord to sell or move in: 2 months. Always check the specific notice period for the ground being used.

Do I have to leave when a Section 8 notice expires?

No. A notice is not a possession order. Your landlord must get a court possession order before you are legally required to leave. Do not move out just because a notice has expired — always wait for a court order.

📞 Free help and support

Shelter: 0808 800 4444 — housing emergency helpline

Citizens Advice: 0800 144 8848

Deposit Protection Service: depositprotection.com

GOV.UK: gov.uk/private-renting

⚠ Important disclaimer: This guide covers housing and tenancy law in England as at July 2026. Wales and Scotland have separate legislation. General legal information only — not legal advice. Verify with ACAS, GOV.UK or Citizens Advice before acting. ukworkrights.co.uk — Not a law firm.