Renters’ Rights reforms could be undermined by lack of awareness
Most landlords will have to obtain a licence for every property they rent out. Photograph: Nico Hogg
Low awareness in London of new renters’ rights legislation could undermine major new reforms set to come into force in May, ministers have been warned.
Just 35 per cent of the almost three million renters in London have heard of the Renters’ Rights Act (RRA), which received Royal Assent last October. Changes set to come into force on 1 May include abolishing Section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions, the end of fixed term tenancies, and bans on rental bidding.
However, the London Assembly Housing Committee has now warned that the majority of renters won’t even know about their new rights and powers, meaning non-compliant landlords could still take advantage of them.
During a session in City Hall, Dr Jennifer Harris of the TDS (Tenancy Deposit Scheme) Group, said that reforms in Scotland implemented almost a decade ago have been “severely undermined by lack of awareness”.
In a letter to the Mayor of London, sent on Thursday (19 March), committee chair Zoë Garbett noted that even when renters do understand the law, 40 per cent aren’t confident enough to take action against their landlord, according to recent polling from Generation Rent.
She called on the Mayor to commit to raising awareness of the Act through his own digital platforms – he has almost three million followers on X, formerly known as Twitter – as well as advertising across the Transport for London (TfL) network.
During the committee’s call for evidence, the TDS Charitable Foundation highlighted that 90 per cent of London tenants expressed a desire for more information about how the act affects them, which is higher than the national average of 82 per cent.
Biggest Changes in the Renters’ Rights Act
1) Banning no-fault (Section 21) Evictions
2) Outlawing bidding wars
3) Ending fixed-term tenancies
4) Right to (reasonably) request a pet
5) Extension of Awaab’s Law – putting struct legal timeframes on private landlords to fix damp and mould
The letter also outlined demands to make sure such information is timed with the government’s own awareness campaign, set to launch in April, and that it is “accessible, multilingual, and designed to engage London’s diverse renter population”.
Ms Garbett added: “The Renters’ Rights Act will introduce major changes to renting, but these reforms will only work if renters know about them and feel confident exercising their rights when faced with unlawful behaviour from non-compliant landlords.
“Our investigation found awareness of the new law is worryingly low. Without clear information and support, many renters simply won’t benefit from the protections the Act is meant to deliver. The Mayor has the reach to ensure Londoners understand these new rights before the law comes into force”.
A spokesperson for the Mayor of London told the LDRS: “Tackling the housing crisis is a top priority for the Mayor and he continues to do everything possible to deliver more affordable, quality homes of all tenures.
“Much of the Renters’ Rights Act builds on the London model for renting and the positive work the Mayor has done alongside campaigners. The Mayor is dedicated to making sure renters know their rights, and will be communicating widely to make sure that they do so. Sadiq is also using his record £11.7 billion Social and Affordable Homes Programme to back new rent control homes, linked to the incomes of key workers.
“The Mayor has consistently called for the devolution of rent controls – which would enable us to develop a system that works for London and the unique challenges facing the capital, including affordability and supply – as we work to build a better, fairer London for everyone”.
The Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), the department responsible for the legislation, did not respond to multiple requests for comment.