Private landlords and tenants in Chichester urged to get prepared for changes to rental system
Chichester District Council is encouraging private landlords and tenants to make sure that they are aware of new government reforms that will reshape England’s rental system from 1 May 2026.
The Renters’ Rights Act, formally approved by the government at the end of October, introduces some of the most significant changes to renting in a generation.
It brings an end to ‘no‑fault’ evictions, replaces fixed‑term tenancies with rolling agreements, strengthens protections against unfair rent increases, and places new responsibilities on landlords around transparency, property standards, and how they manage tenancies. Tenants will also gain clearer rights when requesting pets, while landlords will be required to follow additional processes when seeking possession of a property.
The council will have a more active role under the new renting reforms and has developed leaflets and web pages that help to support both tenants and landlords navigate the changes. These can be found at www.chichester.gov.uk/renters-rights-act. The government has also developed a special housing hub at: www.gov.uk/rentingischanging.
Along with other councils across the area, Chichester District Council is also promoting a Sussex Landlords’ Forum event on 28 April designed to provide landlords with further support. It will run online between 9.30am and 1.35pm and landlords can sign up by emailing: [email protected] to register.
Kerry Standing, Divisional Manager for Revenues, Benefits and Housing at Chichester District Council, says: “These reforms represent a significant shift in how renting works across England, and we want to make sure that both tenants and landlords feel fully prepared for the changes ahead.
“The new rules introduced by the government are designed to create greater stability and fairness in the rental market, and we recognise that they also bring new responsibilities. Our priority is to support people through this transition, provide clear guidance, and ensure that everyone understands what the Act means for them. We encourage anyone who rents or lets a property to take a look at the information we’ve produced and to get in touch by emailing: [email protected] if they need further advice.
“It’s important to point out, that although we will have a much greater role in the private rental sector from 1 May, any issues with social housing need to be directed to social landlords and then if not resolved, they need to be escalated to the housing ombudsman.”
The government has also announced that further elements of the Renters’ Rights Act will take effect in later phases. In the future, a database, an ombudsman, Awaab’s Law, and the Decent Homes Standard will all be implemented in the private rented sector. A date for these changes has yet to be announced.