Full Breakdown
Renters' Rights Act to Transform London's Private Rental Market
4/28/2026, 7:33:25 AM
Effective 1 May 2024: Core Reform
Effective 1 May 2024, the Renters' Rights Act ends Section 21 “no-fault” evictions, caps rent hikes, and requires landlords to give tenants an information sheet; evictions now need court-approved grounds.
Context & Numbers
Section 21 previously allowed eight-week, no-reason terminations. Median claim-to-possession time rose from 16 weeks a decade ago to 26 weeks (MoJ). Landlords lose on average £12,000 per property nationally and £19,000 in London (NRLA). Section 21 cases rose from 22 % of Acorn’s 2024 workload to 31 % in early 2026. The government will recruit up to 1,000 judges for the expected surge in Section 8 hearings.
Stakeholders
Rongmala, 57, an accidental landlord in south London, faces £15,000 arrears and an 11-month bailiff timeline; her son Marouf calls the situation “heartbreaking.” Clara Collingwood of The Renters Reform Coalition welcomes the reforms. Keith Taylor, landlord of three units, says the law makes landlords “very nervous.” Rick Gannon, owner of 70 properties, calls it “the biggest change… for the better.”
Official Statements & Responses
Housing Secretary Steve Reed says the Act will give 2.7 million renters “security of a home they can rely on.” The Ministry of Justice will add up to 1,000 judges to “reduce pressure on the courts in the long-term.” The National Residential Landlords' Association concedes longer court times but says the reforms will not trigger a mass exodus, only more selective renting. The Renters Reform Coalition calls the change a “huge difference” for tenants.
Criticism & Opposition
Keith Taylor and Amanda Richardson argue the Act adds bureaucracy, threatens profitability and may spur property sales. David Simms warns £7,000 fines for missing tenant-information sheets could deter landlords. The Conservative Party says the law “exacerbates housing costs” and will drive landlords out; Reform UK says it is already “driving landlords to sell up in droves, slashing supply and raising rents.”
Verbatim Quotes
- “My children are helping me for everything, but I don't want that,” — Rongmala, accidental landlord
- “This is what change looks like: a Labour government working with Labour councils and a Labour mayor to bring down the cost of living and give Londoners the security of a home they can rely on.” — Steve Reed, Housing Secretary
What's Next
The Ministry of Justice will expand county-court capacity and add up to 1,000 judges to manage the rise in Section 8 cases. Landlords such as David Simms are reviewing portfolios and planning sales. Monitoring will track the Act’s effect on rental supply, affordability and tenant security.
