Five key updates landlords should prepare for in 2025

The New Year is here, and it’s fair to say that 2025 is shaping up to be a hugely significant year when it comes to legislative changes affecting private landlords. 

Here, we round-up what we can expect in 2025, and how the NRLA can support you through the changes. 

As an NRLA member, you can stay in the know about forthcoming sector changes and stay compliant. Access EXPERT one-to-one advice, COMPREHENSIVE training, and hundreds of useful resources. Not a member? Join us today. 

Although exact time frames haven’t been confirmed for the Renters’ Rights Bill, the Bill is progressing through Parliament apace.

The Bill will return to Parliament on 14 January for report stage. Following this, the Bill will move to the House of Lords.

The Bill will introduce widespread and significant changes to renting in England, some of the biggest changes in a generation.  

It will change tenancies, the process of gaining possession, the rules around pets in properties, and introduce a number of other measures. 

The Bill is expected to come into force in summer 2025. 

How NRLA can support you: 

We have full details of our campaigning for fair and balanced reforms to the sector over on our dedicated Renters’ Rights Bill hub for members, which also includes an FAQs section. The hub can be accessed here. 

Throughout the Bill’s progression so far, we have been running webinars for our members, and we will continue to do so right up until the implementation of the Bill, and afterwards, to ensure you are fully supported and understand what you need to do to stay compliant.  

Our brand new Renters’ Rights Bill training course also launches in February 2025, to help landlords understand the key provisions of the Bill. Due to huge demand, we have added additional dates for this course in the spring. 

We are also working on a suite of new and updated documents and guides that will launch next year, to help our members prepare in advance of the Renters’ Rights Bill coming into force. This will include all-new tenancy agreements and guarantor agreements, along with a host of other updates. 

In addition, always remember that our Landlord Support team will also be on hand to help answer questions from members in relation to the new Bill. Watch our latest video below, to learn more about the Bill’s progression.

The Government launched a consultation on changes to the current Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) system at the beginning of December. 

Changes that are being proposed include reducing the validity periods for EPCs, changing how EPCs are calculated, and expanding the current rules so all HMOs will be required to have an EPC certificate.  

This consultation closes in February. To read more about the proposals and how to have your say as a landlord, click here.

In addition to this, the Government is set to launch a consultation on increasing minimum energy efficiency standards in the domestic private rented sector. Currently, landlords are required to have a minimum energy efficiency rating of E in their rentals unless a valid exemption applies.  

While time frames for EPC changes are not known at the moment, it’s fair to say these two consultations will be hugely important for landlords in 2025, insofar as confirming the Government’s direction of travel for energy efficiency in privately rented homes. 

How NRLA can support you: 

The NRLA will be providing formal responses to both of these consultations, making the case for changes that are fair, practical, and workable for landlords.   

Our members can also keep up to date with the progress of both consultations via our weekly e-newsletters. We also have free guidance online for members around their energy efficiency responsibilities.

Awaab’s Law was introduced last year as part of the Social Housing (Regulation) Act 2023. It followed the death of a toddler in December 2020 due to exposure to mould in the social home his family rented.

Awaab’s Law was introduced in the social rented sector last year and will be expanded to the private rented sector as part of the Renters' Rights Bill.

The law mandates timely interventions for hazardous conditions, a measure expected to improve tenant safety and living conditions by setting clear repair timelines that landlords must meet.   

How NRLA can support you: 

The NRLA will be updating members on the new law and any new obligations as soon as more information is known about this. 

You can book your place on our eLearning course around managing damp and mould here. 

As of 23 December 2024, local authorities will now no longer need to seek Secretary of State approval when it comes to plans to introduce local licensing schemes.  

Until these changes, if a proposed scheme covered more than 20% of the private rented sector in the local authority boundary, the Secretary of State had to approve it. Now, this is no longer the case, so it will effectively become much easier for councils to introduce schemes.  

How NRLA can support you: 

This latest announcement follows the publication of the Renters' Rights Bill earlier this year, which pledged to establish a national database of private landlords.

The NRLA responded to the Government's announcement by warning that - in light of the future national database - the plan was a costly waste of time and money. 

A reminder that if you’re a member and you want some advice on responding to licensing consultation, you can access our free toolkit. An exclusive resource for our members, the toolkit is brimming with information on the different types of licensing schemes, and advice on how you can respond to consultations in your area. 

Plus, using NRLA Licensing Support, you can easily see which areas are consulting on licensing, or if your rental property is in a designated licensing area.  

According to the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020, private landlords must ensure every electrical installation in their residential premises is inspected and tested at intervals of no more than 5 years by a qualified and competent person. 

The regulations came into force on 1 June 2020, so 2025 will mark five years since these regulations came into force, meaning we could see a huge demand for contractors in 2025.  

If your certificate is up for renewal, or perhaps you need an EICR conducting for a new property, then help is at hand.  

How the NRLA can support you? 

You can arrange your EICR in seconds using the NRLA’s compliance arm, Safe2. Simply order the certificate online, and Safe2 will connect you with a local electrician who can do the job.  

Click here to understand more about your electrical safety responsibilities as a landlord.