Private Rented Sector Landlord Ombudsman
A new ombudsman every private landlord in England will have to join, so tenants can have complaints settled for free. Membership is expected to become compulsory in 2028.
In short: The Renters' Rights Act 2025 creates a single ombudsman for private landlords in England. Tenants will be able to complain about their landlord free of charge, and its decisions will bind the landlord. The Government expects membership to be compulsory from 2028.
英格蘭。 已於 5 October 2026 對照法律查核. 僅供參考，並非法律建議。
How it is expected to work:
- Every private landlord must join, however many homes they let, and pay a fee.
- A tenant complains to the landlord first; if it is not put right, they can go to the ombudsman.
- The ombudsman can require an apology, action or compensation.
- It will deal with how the landlord handled things, not with possession cases, which stay with the courts.
Who will run it and the exact start date have not been announced. It follows the PRS Database.
It is different from the redress schemes that letting agents already belong to.
Read more: The landlord database and ombudsman: when you must register
Related: PRS Database, Property redress scheme
資料來源
Guides on this
Guide
What changed for landlords on 1 May 2026
The Renters' Rights Act came into force in England on 1 May 2026. Section 21 is gone, every tenancy is now periodic, and rent rises follow one procedure. Here is what a self-managing landlord actually has to do differently.
Guide
The assured periodic tenancy explained
Every private tenancy in England is now an assured periodic tenancy. What that is, how it starts, how it ends, and what your agreement can and cannot say.
Guide
How to raise the rent (once a year, section 13)
In England you can raise the rent once every twelve months, by a section 13 notice on the prescribed form with two months' notice. Here is the procedure and what the tenant can do about it.
Guide
Pet requests: you have to consider them
Since 1 May 2026 a tenant in England can ask to keep a pet, and the landlord must not unreasonably refuse. How the request works, what counts as reasonable, and what you can ask for in return.
Related terms
Glossary
Assured periodic tenancy
The standard private tenancy in England since 1 May 2026: it rolls on month to month (or shorter) with no end date until the tenant or landlord ends it properly.
Glossary
Assured shorthold tenancy (AST)
The usual private tenancy in England from 1997 until 30 April 2026. On 1 May 2026 existing ASTs became assured periodic tenancies and no new private ones can be made.
Glossary
Awaab's Law
Rules setting fixed times for landlords to investigate and fix damp, mould and other serious hazards. In force for social housing; due to be extended to private lets.
Glossary
Civil penalty
A fine a council can impose on a landlord or agent instead of prosecuting, for breaches of housing law such as letting an unlicensed HMO or ignoring an improvement notice.
Glossary
Decent Homes Standard
A standard a home must meet: free of serious hazards, in reasonable repair, with reasonably modern facilities and warm. Applies to social housing; planned for private lets.
Glossary
Grounds for possession (ground 1, 1A and 8)
The reasons in Schedule 2 of the Housing Act 1988 on which a landlord can seek possession. Some are mandatory, some discretionary; the main ones are moving in, selling and arrears.