Understanding landlord-tenant law is not optional if you own rental property. Getting it wrong can cost thousands in legal fees and months of lost rent.\n\nSection 21 Abolition — Section 21 no-fault evictions allowed landlords to regain possession with two months notice without a reason. The Renters Rights Act 2025 abolishes Section 21 entirely. Once abolished, landlords must use Section 8 grounds or new grounds introduced by the Act.\n\nSection 8 Grounds — Section 8 allows possession on specific grounds: mandatory (court must grant if proved) and discretionary (court decides). Key mandatory grounds include Ground 1 (landlord wants to live there), Ground 2 (lender repossession), Ground 8 (two months arrears). Discretionary grounds include persistent late payment and property damage.\n\nThe Renters Rights Act — Major changes: all tenancies become periodic with no fixed term. Tenants give two months notice at any time. Landlords need specified grounds to end a tenancy. A new ground allows recovery for sale after 12 months. Rent increases limited to once yearly. The Decent Homes Standard applies to private rentals. A new PRS Ombudsman handles complaints.\n\nDeposit Protection — All deposits must be protected in a government scheme within 30 days. Failure means you cannot serve valid notices and the tenant can claim up to three times the deposit.\n\nCompliance Requirements — Valid EPC of E or above, annual gas safety certificate, five-yearly EICR, smoke alarms on every floor, carbon monoxide alarms in rooms with combustion appliances. Non-compliance risks fines and inability to evict.\n\nRight to Rent Checks — All landlords must verify tenants have the right to rent in the UK before granting a tenancy. Failure results in civil penalties of up to 10,000 per tenant for first breach and 20,000 for repeat offences.