Labour MP for Ealing Southall, Deirdre Costigan, has called the passing of the Renters’ Rights Bill into law as a “landmark day” for local residents.
The legislation, which received Royal Assent last week (27 October 2025), will affect more than 11 million private renters across England, including 2.7 million in London and an estimated 138,863 in Ealing. The bill introduces a range of wide-ranging reforms aimed at strengthening tenants’ rights, abolishing “no-fault” evictions and giving councils greater powers to act against rogue landlords.
Among the changes are the abolition of Section 21 evictions, which previously allowed landlords to remove tenants without reason, and the creation of periodic tenancies that allow renters to remain in their homes indefinitely. The new law also bans rental bidding wars, extends Awaab’s Law to private tenants to ensure landlords act swiftly on dangerous damp and mould, and applies the Decent Homes Standard to private rental properties for the first time.
It also makes it illegal for landlords to discriminate against tenants with children or those receiving benefits, introduces a Private Rented Sector Database and Ombudsman to improve transparency and dispute resolution, and strengthens renters’ rights to keep pets – with landlords now required to justify any refusal.
Ms Costigan said: “Every week, constituents share stories of mould and dangerous conditions in their private rented homes, and now they will be backed by this new law to demand that those conditions are fixed.”
She added: “In just fifteen months, Labour has delivered the kind of meaningful reform that the Conservatives failed to act on for over a decade. We are giving renters the security and fairness they deserve – safe, stable homes where people can build their lives. But the job is not done.”
Ms Costigan also referenced next year’s local elections, taking place on 7 May 2026, and said: “In May’s local elections, we need to ensure we have a strong Labour council to enforce these new protections, raise standards, and continue to deliver for working people across our community.”
Housing Secretary Steve Reed said the Act represented “the biggest leap forward in renters’ rights in a generation”, adding that it would “end the injustice that has left millions living in fear of losing their homes”.
The reform follows a recent parliamentary inquiry into FirstPort, the UK’s largest leasehold managing agent, where Ealing Southall residents gave evidence about poor service and rising costs.
