RIGHTS AND WRONGS
They said they would do it. And they did it. The first phase of the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 (RRA 2025) was activated by a second commencement order SI 2026/421 on 1 May 2026 (made just a fortnight earlier) with some transitional and saving provisions thrown in. Here is a drive-by survey of the order. The regulation numbers come from the order.
‘I’m selling up’ There is a new ground for possession—a sale of the dwelling—at para 3 of Sch 1 to RRA 2025. The ground will not apply to what is called a ‘legacy assured tenancy’. That is an assured tenancy entered into before 1 May 2026 which was not an assured shorthold (reg 5). When the tenancy ends, the landlord could grant a new assured periodic tenancy for which the sale ground for possession would be available. Further, there is a reletting penalty where this ground has been relied on (see ‘Civil way’, 175 NLJ 8143, p12) but an exemption in the case
