A parliamentary petition calling for changes to the Renters’ Rights Act has received a government response, more than a fortnight after surpassing the 10,000-signature threshold required for an official reply.
Since reaching that milestone on 10 February, the petition has gained just over 5,000 additional signatures, bringing the total to more than 15,000. If it eventually reaches 100,000 signatures, it would be considered for debate in Parliament.
Launched in late January by landlord Craig Littlejohn, the petition urges the government to introduce a six-week fast-track court process for Mandatory Grounds under Sections 8 and 7A (covering arrears and anti-social behaviour), establish a registered landlord database of tenants evicted through the courts, and raise the deposit cap to cover substantial property damage.
The campaign notes that the abolition of Section 21 under the Renters’ Rights Act has left Section 8 as the main route for evicting problem tenants. Ministry of Justice data shows the average eviction now takes more than 27 weeks—over six months.
“We believe this delay [in the tenant eviction time] punishes law-abiding landlords via irrecoverable arrears and damage. We urgently need an expedited court process for mandatory grounds (ASB/arrears), a vetting database for repeat offenders, and a higher deposit cap to help sustain the rental market,” the petition stated.
Government response:
“Government does not support these proposals. From 1 May 2026, the Renters’ Rights Act will ensure landlords can continue to gain possession when necessary, while offering more security to tenants.
“The government has no plans to introduce an expedited court possession process for mandatory possession grounds, a tenant vetting database, or to raise the cap on tenancy deposits.
“We value the contribution made by responsible landlords, who provide quality homes to their tenants and understand that landlords must have robust possession grounds where there is a good reason to take their property back.
“The Renters’ Rights Act (RRA) will introduce a new tenancy system from 1 May 2026. These reforms will clarify and expand grounds for possession, allowing landlords to regain possession when necessary, for example to sell or move in. Where a tenant is at fault, landlords will be able to seek possession using relevant grounds, including where a tenant commits anti-social behaviour, is damaging the property, or falls into significant arrears. While we recommend landlords and tenants work together to address issues, these possession grounds are sufficient to take action when this is not possible.
“Most tenancies end amicably without the need for landlords to take possession action in the county court. However, the Government recognises that landlords need a smooth and efficient process when taking possession action if needed. Currently, the median average time from landlord claim to a possession order being issued is 7.3 weeks, below the HM Courts and Tribunal Service target of 8 weeks. Of those landlord possession claims issued in 2024, only a minority (28%) required enforcement by bailiffs, meaning that most cases take less than 27 weeks to resolve.
“The government considers it important that tenants have the opportunity to attend a possession hearing if they wish to challenge an eviction. Vital statutory protections for tenants are built into the possession process, such as time available before a hearing to seek legal advice and reasonable notice before an eviction date. Safeguarding these tenant protections within the RRA is a key aspect of the Government’s approach to ensuring landlords can reclaim their property when necessary, while ensuring tenants can challenge unfair evictions. A shorter ‘expedited’ process would not allow sufficient time for these protections.
“We are working closely with HM Courts and Tribunal Service to develop a new digital end-to-end service for resolving all possession claims in the County Courts in England and Wales. The service will offer an online route for making and responding to possession claims, filing documents, and receiving updates and outcomes, offering improved user experience through guided journeys.
“The government does not believe that it is proportionate to create a database for tenants who have previously been evicted by a bailiff following a court possession order. Private landlords and letting agents already have a range of tools available to them to obtain references from their tenants, and may consider various factors when deciding to let to a tenant, including previous or outstanding rent arrears and credit checks.
“With regards to increasing tenancy deposits, the Tenant Fees Act 2019 limits tenancy deposits to no more than five weeks’ rent where the total annual rent is less than £50,000, or six weeks’ rent where the total annual rent is £50,000 or above. This is in addition to a refundable holding deposit (to reserve a property) capped at no more than one week’s rent. We believe that this strikes the right balance between providing security for landlords and maintaining affordability for tenants.
“Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.”
You can view the petition here.
Well there you have it, I believe the tenants will suffer as available properties will decline and therefore remind will rise and the selection process will be very stringent.
You must be logged in to like or dislike this comments.
Click to login
Don't have an account? Click here to register
LL’s must now substantially tighten-up their prospective due-diligence process and potentially only rent to tenants who can provide a guarantor. This is our process now.
Will leave the Local Authority, and ultimately the Govt, to house those that fail DD. The Govt cannot cane the PRS and then expect the sector to play a role in social welfare.
The fundamental problem is that our governments are more concerned with playing politics, garnishing votes and tax take, than creating ‘good’ law – a reflection of the quality and personalities of the people who choose to go into politics!
You must be logged in to like or dislike this comments.
Click to login
Don't have an account? Click here to register
It just shows the contempt this government has for private landlords., yet local councils are increasingly begging the PRS to help them house the homeless.
As for new tenants, we now need a UK based, home owning guarantor AND RGI.
You must be logged in to like or dislike this comments.
Click to login
Don't have an account? Click here to register
Agreed, but not just in Westminster. The Labour held Welsh Assembly Government went through this process and introduced the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016, which came into affect on 1/12/2022. Their attitude was that every private landlord and letting agent was bad and untrustworthy (to put it mildly). They did not understand the PRS at all and their new legislation covered both private and social landlords. Big difference is that social tenants pay in arrears and their houses have bare boards (no carpets), etc. Every Landlord has to Register and anyone managing property has to have a Licence, both with 5-year renewals. They have not gone this far in RRA, but RHWA does have the equivalent of a S.21 but it is a 6-month notice. Even with this length of time, Councils are telling tenants to stay put until there is a Court Order.
As expected many part-time landlords have left the sector in Wales, but the law is so complicated (37-page Occupational Contracts) that we now have many more fully managed clients.
You must be logged in to like or dislike this comments.
Click to login
Don't have an account? Click here to register
We’ve updated our criteria so that tenants must now provide a full‑time working homeowner guarantor with disposable income of at least 1.5× the monthly rent. A guarantor will be required if applicants fall into any of the following categories: adverse credit, under 25, newly cohabiting couples, tenants on benefits, retired applicants, single applicants, first‑time renters, or those in part‑time, zero‑hours, temporary, or agency work.
Well done, Labour — the ball is in your court now.
You must be logged in to like or dislike this comments.
Click to login
Don't have an account? Click here to register
+1
We have now developed a questionnaire to ‘pre-screen’ applicants; will only consider A++ tenants now!
You must be logged in to like or dislike this comments.
Click to login
Don't have an account? Click here to register
Well done for this landlord having a go. Where is Propertmark in all of this? That’s right too busy in hiring Angela Rayner for their conference.
You must be logged in to like or dislike this comments.
Click to login
Don't have an account? Click here to register
Governments have been bashing private landlords for decades and the new bill is just another tool to be rid of all of us. Not one thing in this new bill to benefit landlords, not even the right to carry out inspections. We did have a landlord who sued his local council for repayment of rent arrears and won his case when they advised the tenants who were being evicted to stay put. Landlords will now pay additional income tax on their rentals and will now pay more tax than anyone else. I don’t believe we have seen an end to landlord bashing it will continue for as long as this Government is in power. Our courts are overwhelmed and digital evictions is definitely the way forward but anything that helps landlords with a legal eviction will never see the light of day.
You must be logged in to like or dislike this comments.
Click to login
Don't have an account? Click here to register