Government defends court readiness amid warnings over Renters’ Rights Act strain

I expect only time will tell if justice system is ready. In theory the courts should be busier as all eviction cases(where tenant doesn’t vacate by notice date) will require a court hearing. But its impossible to say for sure and to predict. Expect more tenants will challenge rent increases, they have got nothing to lose and all to gain.

Poppycock’s comment is politics speak for ‘we’re not prepared to spend any money to make life easier for landlords’

Whilst I hesitate to challenge the Master of the Rolls, the rules under the Renters’ Rights Act do (not could) create “an incentive for tenants to apply to the FTT in respect of every increase in order to delay its implementation”. Unless the increase is so small so as not to be worth the very modest £47 court fee, delaying the increase is in every tenant’s immediate financial interest.

Usual politician hogwash.Yes maybe they will ensure tenants get every attention but landlords with Section 8 and other issues will be at the back of the queue and down the street.

Reply to the comment left by Ian Narbeth at 09/07/2026 – 11:08
so the way round this is for every LL to always increase the rent every year even if it is £20 a month. Tenants will have to get used to this as a matter of course, just as everything else goes up year on year.

If every landlord did this, it will only serve to increase the market rates over time. In turn this will effect the FTT when they look to assess the increase against similar properties….

If you believe anything Pennycook says that is even remotely favourable to, or creates a level playing field for landlords, your judgment is seriously flawed

Reply to the comment left by Reluctant Landlord at 11:26
The problem is that you can’t do it every year if the tenant objects. If it takes 6 to 12 months to get to the tribunal then any increase will only take effect when the tribunal reaches its decision and even then the tribunal can postpone the increase for up to 2 months if the tenant would face financial hardship.
It appears that you cannot increase the rent for 12 months after the previous increase. Suppose L gives notice to increase rent in October 2026. Although Government guidance says: “You can challenge a proposed rent increase that is above the market rent” T can challenge any increase. T does so. Tribunal decides in April 2027. The earliest next increase date after that is April 2028. T challenges again and tribunal may not decide until January 2029.
Worse, if hundreds of thousands of increases are challenged it might take years to get a decision!
Bear in mind also that a landlord needs to collect evidence as to market rents for similar properties at the time of the proposed increase. A £20 a month increase will yield £240 in a year and the tribunal cannot order more than that. How much is your time worth to prepare the case for an increase?
A possibility is to seek a high increase but to offer a lower increase without prejudice provided the tenant accepts it. Yet to be tested but might work.

I am sure I read recently that the 47 pound fee was being eliminated – it was deemed excessive!

Reply to the comment left by Paul Essex at 09/07/2026 – 12:28
It seems the article was about people on benefits rather than everyone getting free or reduced fees

If you’ve waited 12 months for the fft and no decision has been made, why not issue another section 13 rent increase for a greater amount? (ie 2 years worth of rent increases) How would that be handled – would the 2nd one supercede the 1st, or would they take them in order to delay the 2nd annual increase (this seems more likely to me)?

Sounds like rent controls by the back door to me