Renters in the UK have been urged to challenge unfair rent rises as Labour’s flagship housing bill brings in strengthened protections for millions.
Launching the ‘Resist Rent Rises’ campaign, a coalition of tenants’ unions have launched a free tool that enables renters to give information about their proposed rent rise, offering advice on whether it can be challenged.
Following the passage of the government’s Renters’ Rights Act, a series of sweeping changes to the system mean it is now easier for tenants to challenge rent rises beyond the market rate at tribunal.
The headline measure was the removal of controversial Section 21 ‘no-fault’ eviction notices, which gave landlords the power to remove a tenant without reason at two months’ notice. Housing charities warned that these were often used in retaliation when a tenant challenged a rent increase, meaning there was a risk in doing so.
Bringing another risk was the possibility that the tribunal could decide to actually increase the rent above the amount the landlord was asking for, which can no longer happen under new rules.
Research from anti-poverty charity Z2K last month found that renters who challenge their rent rises are on average £1,140 a year better off than they would be had they accepted the increase.
In 71 per cent of applications for ‘market rent determinations’ renters have been successful in securing a lower rent than what was proposed, the group also found.
The Resist Rent Rises campaigners, which includes the London, Greater Manchester, and Oxford Renters Union, said: “We need to use these rights or we lose them. Now that Section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions have been abolished, and other changes to Rent Tribunals better protect renters, all renters should be able to use rent tribunals to resist their rent rises and stay in their homes.”
The group points out that asking rents have risen by around 40 per cent across the country since 2020, according to analysis of Rightmove figures, while cost of living pressures have grown across the board.
It also reiterated its call for rent controls, which some campaigners have said was lacking from Labour’s flagship renter rules.
While Labour’s reforms have empowered more renters to make use of tribunal powers, and have put a limit on rental increases to once a year, no form of rent cap or controls was introduced as part of the act.
Following speculation that Labour ministers were considering these policies, housing minister Matthew Pennycook said last month: “We are not doing this. It’s not a credible or serious policy proposition.
“I can’t remember how many times I’m on record of saying this government has no intention, does not agree with rent controls, and there are really good reasons for that.”
