Low awareness in London of new renters’ rights legislation could affect the rollout of reforms due to take effect in a month, ministers have been warned.
A survey indicates that only 35% of London’s nearly three million renters have heard of the Renters’ Rights Act (RRA), which received Royal Assent in October 2025.
The London Assembly Housing Committee said the majority of renters may not be aware of their new rights and protections.
Under the RRA, Section 21 evictions will be abolished from 1 May. From that date, landlords will need a lawful reason to end a tenancy.
The reforms also:
+ Ban rental bidding wars
+ Replace fixed-term tenancies with rolling tenancies
+ Give tenants the right to reasonably request a pet
During a City Hall session, Dr Jennifer Harris of the Tenancy Deposit Scheme (TDS) said that similar reforms in Scotland a decade ago had been “severely undermined by lack of awareness.”
In a 19 March letter to Mayor Sadiq Khan, committee chair Zoe Garbett noted that 40% of renters who understand the law still lack confidence to take action against landlords, according to Generation Rent polling. She urged the mayor to use his digital platforms to raise awareness of the act.
The TDS Charitable Foundation reported that 90% of London tenants want more information on how the act affects them, above the national average of 82%. The committee’s letter also called for information to be aligned with the government’s awareness campaign in April and to be accessible, multilingual, and tailored to London’s diverse renter population.
Garbett commented: “Our investigation found awareness of the new law is worryingly low. Without clear information and support, many renters simply won’t benefit from the protections the act is meant to deliver.
“The mayor has the reach to ensure Londoners understand these new rights before the law comes into force.”
A spokesperson for Sir Sadiq told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “The mayor is dedicated to making sure renters know their rights, and will be communicating widely to make sure that they do so.
“The mayor has consistently called for the devolution of rent controls – which would enable us to develop a system that works for London and the unique challenges facing the capital, including affordability and supply – as we work to build a better, fairer London for everyone.”