Tenants gear up to challenge rent rises under the Renters’ Rights Bill

Renters in England are preparing to assert themselves more forcefully against landlords and letting agents when their rents are increased, a survey reveals.

The Generation Rent findings from a survey of nearly 1,000 tenants, show that the upcoming Renters’ Rights Bill will embolden renters.

It says that 68% of respondents expressed a greater willingness to dispute rent rises, while 62% will flag up tenancy problems.

The survey also reveals that 86% want rent controls to be brought in.

Challenge unfair rent rises

Generation Rent said: “The upcoming reforms, being introduced by the Renters’ Rights Bill, are extremely popular amongst private renters.

“68% said that it would make it more likely that they would challenge unfair rent rises, 62% that they would tell the landlord about tenancy issues, and 60% that they would contact their local council about issues with the home.

“These are extremely positive numbers and indicate that renters are already looking forward to being able to use more of their rights and to feel more empowered once Section 21 finally ends.”

Important to ban Section 21

Unsurprisingly, 83% of those questioned welcomed the abolition of Section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions as critically important, with 69% anticipating a beneficial effect on their lives.

Tenant perceptions of eviction motives reveal concerns, with nearly a quarter believing landlords evict to boost rents.

A similar proportion suspects property sales as the driver, and a fifth point to avoidance of maintenance responsibilities.

Only a small fraction, just 10%, pointed to rent arrears, and even fewer, 4%, mentioned antisocial behaviour.

Renters want rent controls

Tenants apparently want more action, particularly rent controls, which is absent from the current Bill.

The survey found that 86% of renters believe such measures would significantly improve their circumstances, with 73% rent controls ‘very important’.

Generation Rent is pushing for restrictions on in-tenancy rent increases to the lower of inflation or wage growth, tenant relocation support for unjust evictions and limits on guarantor demands.

It said: “Rent restrictions would do a world of good in stopping unfair rent rises and keeping renters in their homes that landlords cannot price them out of.

“The government should look to the Renters’ Rights Bill to stop in-tenancy rent restrictions increasing faster than wages and the cost of living.”

Eviction notice database

It also wants a database for eviction notices to curb abuse of the process, and increased construction of affordable and social housing tailored to community needs, including disabled tenants.

The survey also notes that 61% of tenants have, over the past year, faced higher rents with the median rises hitting £80 monthly.

Renters also claim that barriers to new tenancies, such as guarantor demands and upfront rent requests, are also rising, though the Bill promises to ban such practices.