Morning, Thursday, 30th April 2026
Online
This conference will focus on next steps for the private rented sector in England.
As the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 moves toward implementation, it will be an opportunity for stakeholders and policymakers to discuss priorities and key issues for delivery.
Adapting to new frameworks
We expect discussion to focus on the transition to a new tenancy framework and implications for tenants, landlords, and local authorities, alongside questions of clarity on commencement and secondary legislation, expectations for local authority enforcement, and readiness of courts to handle rent disputes and evictions.
Delegates will also consider how landlords and agents respond to new compliance requirements, and the level of support required across the sector as the new regime takes effect.
Standards, compliance & contract changes
Planned sessions will examine implications of abolishing Section 21 and moving to periodic contracts for tenant security and landlord confidence, and how stronger standards under Awaab’s Law and the Decent Homes Standard will be delivered. Discussion will consider creation of a national database and a mandatory ombudsman, expectations for secondary legislation, and implications for enforcement capacity, compliance costs, and the role of local authorities.
Delegates will assess stakeholder readiness, including letting agents’ ability to meet new compliance duties, and issues for courts in handling rent disputes and evictions, alongside Spending Review resourcing commitments for local enforcement.
Housing market, energy efficiency & building design
In the wider context of national housing policy, delegates will consider effects on housing supply, landlord confidence, and market stability, as well as the specific circumstances of student housing and build-to-rent.
Discussion will look at how energy efficiency and warm homes programmes affect affordability and rent levels, and approaches to managing lawful evictions and debt recovery. Options for rent control in high-cost areas and the treatment of tenants under Right to Rent rules are also expected to be discussed.
Attendees will also assess longer-term priorities for housing safety, building design, and resilience to risks such as flooding, reflecting lessons from the Grenfell Inquiry and recent research on new-build vulnerabilities.
Overview of areas for discussion
- tenancy reform:
- implications of abolishing Section 21 and moving to periodic contracts - practicalities of shifting to a single tenancy system - priorities for clarity in secondary legislation and guidance
- tenant protections and standards:
- delivery of Awaab’s Law and the Decent Homes Standard - creation of a national database and a mandatory PRS Ombudsman
- timetables for tackling damp, mould and hazards - implications for enforcement capacity and compliance costs
- landlord obligations and confidence:
- compliance for smaller landlords - impact of inspection regimes and rent increase limits - maintaining investor confidence as the new regime takes effect
- enforcement and dispute resolution:
- local authority capacity and Spending Review funding - readiness of courts for eviction and rent disputes - effectiveness of new enforcement powers and data-sharing requirements
- energy efficiency and affordability:
- practicality and deliverability of retrofit cost caps - risks of rent increases for tenants at risk of fuel poverty - coordination with warm homes and energy efficiency programmes
- student housing and build-to-rent:
- exemptions and possession grounds - maintaining flexibility for annual turnover - market stability and supply impacts
- building safety and resilience:
- progress on Grenfell Inquiry recommendations - accountability for developers and landlords - resilience of new builds to flooding and other environmental risks
- longer-term policy direction:
- potential role of rent controls in high-cost areas - treatment of tenants under Right to Rent rules - broader implications for fairness, access and market outcomes
