Reform UK vow to scrap the Renters’ Rights Act
9:02 AM, 25th February 2026, 2 months ago
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Reform UK will pledge to scrap the Renters’ Rights Act if it wins the next general election, with deputy leader Richard Tice arguing the law is already reducing supply and pushing up rents.
The Act secured Royal Assent in October after it was introduced by former housing secretary Angela Rayner and builds on the earlier Renters’ Reform Bill first unveiled by the Conservative government in 2019.
Labour said the legislation would ‘level the playing field and create a fairer housing market for all’.
In a speech in Birmingham, Mr Tice described the Act as ‘well intentioned’, but said it was ‘already reducing the supply of properties to rent and therefore increasing the prices’.
Too risky for landlords
He continued: “The issue is many landlords are now concluding that’s it’s too risky to be able to essentially remove an occupier/tenant if they want, for example, to sell the property, if the tenant is not paying.
“There’s a balance of risk and reward.
“Too many landlords have said enough is enough.”
Mr Tice added: “Again, it’s well intentioned in terms of the issues around the period for notice to quit, but actually it’s just gone way beyond this.”
Plans are a ‘disgrace’
The chief executive of Generation Rent, Ben Twomey, said: “Forcing people back into insecure and unsafe homes is not a promise, it’s a threat levelled at England’s 11 million private renters.
“Our homes are the foundations of our lives, so it is disgraceful to see Reform UK pledging to roll back new and essential protections that would improve the quality of our homes and help us to stay in them for longer.”
He added: “Reform UK had nothing to say at the debates about the Renters’ Rights Bill when it was passing through Parliament.
“They also haven’t spoken to renter groups like us about their plans, which would be a gift to unscrupulous landlords who are responsible for the poor conditions renters face right now.”
RRC also disagrees
On X/Twitter, the Renters’ Reform Coalition said: “Over two-thirds of the public supports the end of Section 21 evictions.
“So, why does Reform want to repeal renters’ rights?
“Scrapping the Renters’ Rights Act would just mean more homelessness and insecurity for England’s 11 million renters. Reform should think again.”
Labour’s ‘daft’ reforms
Reform says it would introduce a ‘great repeal bill’ to reverse the rental reforms and other Labour measures it describes as being ‘daft’.
The repeal would sit within a broader economic plan focused on investment and growth.
Housing policy would be absorbed into a new Great Office of State, the Department of Business, Trade and Energy.
The proposed department would take on responsibility for business regulation and energy as well as housing.
Smarter regulation planned
Mr Tice has also set out plans for ‘smarter regulation’, lower energy bills and a British sovereign wealth fund to support manufacturing.
The Local Government Pension Scheme, under the proposals, would be converted into a fund of up to £575bn to back domestic growth.
The party says it would prioritise strategic industries, including steel, oil, gas and defence.
It will also call for ‘heavy tariffs and tight quotas’ on Chinese cars, citing concerns about Britain’s automotive sector.
Watch Richard Tice announce the repeal of the Renters’ Rights Act:
Tags:
Angela Rayner housing policy, landlord regulation reform, Renters’ Rights Act, Richard Tice Reform UK, Section 21 Abolition, UK Private Rented Sector
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Renters turn to commuter towns as demand soars
Member Since June 2014 - Comments: 1562
4:50 PM, 24th February 2026, About 2 months ago
“So, why does Reform want to repeal renters’ rights?”
It’s no good having rights if there are no homes to rent. Being a private landlord is optional.
Member Since December 2023 - Comments: 1574
5:03 PM, 24th February 2026, About 2 months ago
The Act has some good bits so it would be a shame to throw the baby out with the bathwater.
The Act also has some stupid bits.
The problem that needs addressing is that far fewer people want to be landlords. If those who inherit our properties don’t want to be landlords, more tenants will face losing their homes.
We need to make the job of being a landlord more attractive.
I don’t think Reform will win a general election. The best that they should hope to achieve is to be part of a coalition,
Member Since June 2014 - Comments: 1562
5:11 PM, 24th February 2026, About 2 months ago
Reply to the comment left by Cider Drinker at 24/02/2026 – 17:03
“The Act has some good bits”
It’s a pile of crap that will do tenants far more harm than good.
Member Since August 2023 - Comments: 71
10:09 PM, 24th February 2026, About 2 months ago
Reply to the comment left by Cider Drinker at 24/02/2026 – 17:03
I wouldn’t bank on Reform not winning the next election.
Member Since January 2024 - Comments: 24
9:38 AM, 25th February 2026, About 1 month ago
Reply to the comment left by Cider Drinker at 24/02/2026 – 17:03
I think your cider tastes bitter regarding the Reform party
Member Since December 2023 - Comments: 4
10:09 AM, 25th February 2026, About 1 month ago
The abolition of Section 21 and all the other punishments glue to it has a lot of benefits and rights for 2% of the renters but the good 98% renters have to pay for the rights of those 2% such as the big dog that is pooing outside my gate can now do it and peeing too inside the flat over the wood or carpets! And has nothing to pay because an insurance is forbidden!
The tenant who normally use a Airbnb for a one or two months periods can now use normal letting rent and can now pay a month rent plus the deposit while will not pay the second month. He can also free to trash the apartment. Neither will pay for the utility bills and even the Council Tax have to be paid by the landlord as they missed the tenants.
In selecting the tenant the landlord must not rent his property to what he considers the best tenant as that is secondary. He has to rent it to someone who will not be able to pay after one or two months. Now would a small landlord spent £200,000 or more in a flat to rent when he is only the owner to pay the bills and all the fines including a £40.000 or even £7.000 as he is also employed by the Home Office.
At the end of the contract- well there is not end as the real owner of his property is is that 1 or 2 % of the nightmare tenants. tenants.
So the small landlords have an options which has done so well for the Chancellor. In fact the only successful policy in terms of collecting tax as this year has been a real bonanza because Small Landlords are selling and through Capital Gain is bringing the only success that she can boast about. She has done very well as hasve our Association. NRLA voted for section 21 against the votes of their members and it is not because the members are going to be better off with so many new business with their association but poorer because NRLA can now offer more courses and services to comply with the new rules.
Member Since October 2023 - Comments: 201
10:35 AM, 25th February 2026, About 1 month ago
If you actually want to improve the PRS, have a database for bad tenants, so they can be excluded from wasting everyone’s (including good tenants) time and money.
Member Since January 2020 - Comments: 134
10:40 AM, 25th February 2026, About 1 month ago
A house should be a home.
If I were renting, I would not want to be living under the threat of eviction with 2 months’ notice.
Yes, I’d be a great tenant, yes, I’d look after the property, yes, I’d pay my rent BUT I would still always be thinking “all seems great, but what if my landlord has other plans…”
From my perspective as a landlord, the problem is when a tenant does not keep to their side of the bargain, but I can’t quickly and cheaply get rid of them.
We need a properly-drafted Renter & Landlord Rights Act to benefit all except the rogue minority.
Member Since July 2013 - Comments: 1996 - Articles: 21
12:01 PM, 25th February 2026, About 1 month ago
Reply to the comment left by David100 at 25/02/2026 – 10:35
David100, for fairly obvious reasons there will not be a separate database of rogue tenants. However, with s21 gone, there will be many, many more judgment debts registered against defaulting tenants. Provided landlords see things through and take legal action, the court records will become the rogue tenants’ register.
It is also possible for landlords to apply for a court order if rent is unpaid, even before three months’ arrears have accumulated.
If you have a tenant who can pay but won’t or who can’t pay (and will not be able to catch up within a reasonable time) then issue proceedings. You can bargain with the tenant. “Leave now and I will write off some or all of the arrears. Stay, and increase my losses and I will obtain a judgment against you. You will find your credit score ruined and you probably won’t be able to rent in the private sector again.”
Member Since October 2023 - Comments: 201
1:05 PM, 25th February 2026, About 1 month ago
Reply to the comment left by Ian Narbeth at 25/02/2026 – 12:01
You say for “obvious reasons” there will not be a database of rogue tenants………what are those reasons?
After all, there is a database for rogue landlords.
Why is it impossible to hold some people accountable for their behaviour, but not others?
As I understand it, Germany had a database for tenants, and if you were a trash and dasher, you would quickly find it impossible to rent.