- Since the Renters' Right Act received Royal Assent on 27 October 2025, almost six months ago, 30% of tenants in England who have stayed in the same rental properties have had their rents increased.
- Across all tenants in England, 11% have been evicted or received notice of an eviction.
- From 1 May 2026, the Renters' Rights Act will end Section 21 'no fault' evictions and fixed-term tenancies, among other reforms.
- There will also be a stricter process for adjusting rents: landlords will only be able to increase rent once a year using a Section 13 notice, and any rises must not exceed market rates.
In the week commencing 13 April, flatshare site SpareRoom surveyed almost 4,500 tenants in England to take a snapshot of rent rises and evictions in the almost six months since the Renters' Right Act became law. The findings are outlined in the tables below:
Rent increases
| Q. Has your landlord increased your rent since 27 October 2025?* | Tenants in England | Tenants in London |
|---|---|---|
| Yes | 30% | 28% |
| No | 70% | 72% |
| *Question answered by 77% of respondents who said they had been living in the same rental property since this date | ||
| Q. Was a reason given for the rent increase? Select all that apply | Tenants in England | Tenants in London |
|---|---|---|
| Yes, they said it was because their costs had gone up | 39% | 38% |
| No reason was given | 24% | 19% |
| Yes, they said it was because our tenancy was up for renewal | 18% | 26% |
| Yes, they said it was because their mortgage rate had gone up | 11% | 12% |
| Yes, another reason | 11% | 10% |
| Yes, they said it was because of the Renters' Rights Act / changes in the rental sector | 9% | 11% |
Evictions
| Q. Was a reason given for the eviction? Select all that apply | Tenants in England | Tenants in London |
|---|---|---|
| Yes, they said it was because they're selling the property | 43% | 43% |
| Yes, another reason | 23% | 22% |
| No reason was given | 23% | 23% |
| Yes, they said it was because they wanted to move into the property | 14% | 17% |
| Yes, they said it was because of the Renters' Rights Act / changes in the rental sector | 9% | 8% |
Matt Hutchinson, director of flatshare site SpareRoom, comments:
“Given the rental market is supposed to be made fairer by these reforms, it isn't fair tenants have been at the receiving end of all the upheaval since the 1 May hard deadline was announced.
“On the upside, what we may find is landlords who treat their rentals as a passive income may decide enough is enough, and that's not necessarily a bad thing. Being a landlord requires work and good landlords know that. But there will also be good landlords who've decided compliance isn't worth the hassle and it will be a great shame to lose them.
“It would be an exaggeration to say supply in the flatshare market has been immune to the Renters' Rights Act, but it's been surprisingly resilient when you consider the response from landlords, many of whom said they planned to quit the market or reduce their portfolios. There's still the risk of a delayed reaction after 1 May. Not all landlords will be as prepared as they should be, and they may be a flight risk.
“However, there are some signs that flatshare supply may now be under threat. Although supply has grown for the past three consecutive years, supply growth in the year to January 2026 slowed considerably.
“The Renters' Rights Act will give tenants much greater security. The end of Section 21 'no fault' evictions and fixed-term tenancies, and stopping landlords asking for several months' rent in advance are truly game changing for tenants. What it's unlikely to do, in the short term at least, is significantly reduce rents - but it is a huge step forward in correcting the power imbalance.”