The Renters’ Rights Act 2025 marks the biggest leap forward for renters’ rights in 30 years. We are relieved and well pleased that the Labour government has passed this law, which ends section 21 evictions, ensuring that rents can only rise once in any 12 month period, at most, with a clear route to challenge unfair rent increases. And that’s not all.
If you head a single parent family, please support Ella Davies’ campaign for Single Parents’ Rights by completing a quick survey about your experiences of private renting? Did you know that rent paid in advance, when no offence has yet been committed, cannot be the subject of a rent repayment order? Yet another reason to be well pleased when the Renters’ Rights Bill passes into law; landlords won’t be allowed to demand multiple months rent in advance. Did you know that to rent the median one bedroom flat in London costs more than renting the median two bedroom flat nationally? And please be sure of your rights around your tenancy deposit money—it’s still your money, after all
If hot weather is discomforting your home life, will you help academic research into how rising Summer temperatures are affecting people in homes that are hard to keep cool? And what about the needs of renters with dementia? This growing issue needs more awareness so there’s a link for carers and family members to contribute to essential work. We’re concerned, too, that some grounds for eviction under section 8 of the incoming Renters’ Rights Bill might undermine the aim of increasing tenants’ security. Find out why.
Two renters got it wrong when the owner put their home up for sale. You can learn from their mistake. We’ll link you to The Rental Discrimination Clinic, run by Black Equity Organisation and King’s Law Clinic, to help you challenge rental bias. There’s a bit about temporary accommodation and how to support the Magpie Project campaign; no child housed without a kitchen. Also, very good news for all who appreciate the value of property licensing.
Tremendously well-titled, the Renters’ Rights Bill takes steps towards our right to adequate housing. At long last, abolition of eviction under Section 21 will actually happen. Every landlord will have to register details on a database and the Bill specifically outlaws discrimination against people with children & renters in receipt of benefits. But while racist ‘right to rent’ rules remain in place and there’s no cap or control on rents, we still have important things to fight for.
Good news! All the main parties have pledged to end evictions under section 21. We need stronger assurances around any new grounds for eviction and security of tenure (or lack of it) is not the only question to be answered. Architects’ Action for Affordable Housing and Confederation of Co-operative Housing are some of the experts with plans for us to enjoy more and better.
Across London, ‘no fault’ evictions (via the abominable ‘section 21’) increased 52% in the last year, according to analysis from City Hall. That’s more than five times the eviction rate in other parts of the country. We will urge them to act swiftly and decisively, to better protect the well-being of private renters but politicians act fastest to serve the interests of those who vote for them. Please support campaigning efforts by voting in the forthcoming election? Click through for links to register to vote, get voter ID or a postal vote, if you need them. And would you know what to do if the landlord were to refuse to honour the rental contract? It’s just happened to a family in Sutton.
Dishonest landlords and agents are again charging banned fees, five years after the Tenant Fees Act came into effect. Don’t let them get away with it and please know that you cannot be evicted via the section 21 procedure until the landlord/their agent has repaid any fee charged unlawfully. Shout out to renters in Barking & Dagenham; Hammersmith & Fulham; and a bit about brilliant barrister Nick Bano’s book, Against Landlords: How To Solve the Housing Crisis.
Lewisham Councillors are working to optimise their offer to renters in the borough. Can you tell them what they need to know? Wandsworth Council wants to hear from you, too, with a view to ensuring 50% truly affordable homes in every development. But what about you and MEES?
Did you know that you can get free, impartial energy advice, tailored to your situation, from Energy Advice London, funded by the Mayor of London? And MP Matt Western would like to know what you think about council housing. There’s news of progress of the Renters (Reform) Bill; the campaign for Healthy Homes; and Asset Arrest, Laura Yuile’s exploration of how financialised housing affects us
