Most renters are unaware of the Renters’ Rights Act, new TDS Charitable Foundation research finds

New research from the TDS Charitable Foundation has found that many renters remain unaware of the biggest change to renters’ rights in a generation.

The latest Voice of the Tenant survey was carried out with more than 2,000 private renters in England just before the Renters’ Rights Act was implemented on 1st May. It found that almost seven in ten renters had either never heard of the Act or were unsure what it meant for them.

The Act introduces major reforms designed to improve security and fairness for renters, but the research suggests that important new legal protections could go unused unless awareness of the reforms significantly improves.

Awareness gaps among renters

Awareness appeared to be lowest among some groups who may be more vulnerable to poor housing experiences in the private rented sector. This included students, of whom almost half had never heard of the Act followed by low-income tenants and people living in bedsits or rooms in shared houses.

One of the key changes in the Act seeks to make it easier for tenants to challenge proposed rent increases by landlords above market rates. Despite this, almost four in five (78%) of renters said they were unaware of the Tribunal that hears and rules on such cases.

These changes have the potential to make a real difference to renters’ experiences. However, legal protections can only be effective if people know they exist, understand what they mean and feel able to use them when needed.

The survey also suggests the Act may not lead to a significant increase in pet ownership amongst renters, with just 14% saying they intend to seek permission to keep a pet as a result of the reforms.

Improving awareness and understanding

Dr Jennifer Harris, Head of Policy, Research and Social Impact at the TDS Charitable Foundation, said the findings show that more needs to be done to make sure renters can benefit from the reforms.

“The Renters’ Rights Act represents an historic turning point for renters and has the potential to significantly strengthen protections across the private rented sector,” she said. “However, rights only make a difference if people know they exist and understand how to use them.”

The TDS Charitable Foundation is calling for continued collaboration across the sector to improve awareness of renters’ rights and responsibilities. Government, landlords, letting agents, advice services and sector organisations all have an important role to play in helping renters understand the changes and access support when they need it.

The TDS Charitable Foundation has already teamed up with charity partner Crisis to develop a clear practical renters guide to the Act, featuring a PDF and series of short and accessible video explainers. This has been viewed by over 35,000 private renters.

As the reforms continue to take effect, it is vital that all channels are used to reach renters with clear, accessible information – and to give them the confidence to use their new rights in practice.

About TDS

The Tenancy Deposit Scheme is part of The Dispute Service (TDS), the largest tenancy deposit protection and resolution service provider in the UK making life easier for tens of thousands of agents, landlords, developers, and millions of tenants and homebuyers. Our award-winning customer service is highly rated on both Trustpilot and Google, and we’re backed by the NRLA. We offer free deposit protection in our Custodial scheme, and the lowest rates for landlords in our Insured scheme.

The views expressed in this content are solely those of the author alone and do not necessarily represent the views of TDS, its officers, or employees.