Renters’ Rights Act 2025: What Yorkshire farmers need to do now

The Renters’ Rights Act 2025 came into force on 1 May 2026, bringing in new rules for renting property in England. While most of the changes affect landlords generally, there are key differences for farming businesses.

Key changes for all landlords

The 2025 Act replaces assured shorthold tenancies with assured periodic tenancies.

It also abolishes so-called “no-fault” evictions under Section 21, changes the grounds for possession, and requires rent increases to follow the statutory process under the Housing Act 1988.

Tenants are also given some stronger rights, including the ability to ask for permission to keep pets, while bans on discrimination against prospective tenants have also been introduced.

Key changes for farmers

For farming businesses, the position is slightly more complex where accommodation is provided to agricultural workers.

Before an agricultural worker enters into an assured periodic tenancy, a new “Form 9A” must be served. This is to ensure the occupier doesn’t become an Assured Agricultural Occupier, a status that brings additional protection, and excludes many of the usual grounds for possession.

Existing occupiers may already have that additional protection if the correct “Form 9” was not provided at the start of the tenancy. In some cases, older arrangements may also fall under earlier legislation.

The revised possession grounds in Schedule 2 of the 1988 Act may still help in certain situations, including where an agricultural tenancy is ending or has ended; where a property is needed to house agricultural workers (self-employed or employed); or where accommodation was originally let in connection with employment and that employment has ended, or the property is needed for new employee.

Immediate action

Before 31 May 2026, all landlords must provide their tenants with a copy of the Renters’ Rights Act Information Sheet, in line with the terms of the existing tenancy agreement. Where there is no written tenancy agreement, landlords must instead provide a written statement setting out the tenancy terms by the same date.

Failing to provide this information in time could result in a fine of up to £7,000, so landlords should not ignore this deadline.

If you need advice on how these changes affect your properties or tenancies, our landlord services team can help guide you through the changes.

For more information, email me at [email protected]

Tom Hickingbottom is a partner and deputy head of agriculture at Yorkshire and Lincolnshire law firm Wilkin Chapman Rollits