Fewer than four in ten tenants feel more secure following the abolition of Section 21, despite overwhelming support for ending no-fault evictions.
New research from LRG reveals a significant gap between tenants’ expectations of the Renters’ Rights Act and its perceived impact on their housing security.
The property group’s Autumn 2026 Lettings Report found that 68% of tenants supported scrapping Section 21 to improve security.
However, just 39% said they felt more secure in their current tenancy following the change.
Almost a third (31%) reported no improvement, while 13% actually felt less secure. A further 17% were unsure or unaware of the reform.
The findings raise questions about whether the abolition of no-fault evictions has delivered the reassurance tenants expected.
Landlords question need for Section 21 ban
The research also exposed a sharp divide between landlords and tenants over the legislation.
Only a third of landlords surveyed through LRG believed abolishing Section 21 was necessary. Support was even lower among LandlordZone respondents, at around one in five.
Section 21 was abolished on 1 May 2026, removing landlords’ ability to regain possession of assured tenancies without establishing a statutory ground.
However, LRG’s research suggests many landlords had rarely, if ever, relied on the procedure.
Almost two-thirds (65%) of LRG landlords said they had never used Section 21. Another 24% had used it once, while 6% reported using it more than once.
The picture was different among LandlordZone respondents, where 59% had used Section 21 at least once.
The survey included 405 LRG landlords, 166 LRG tenants and 107 LandlordZone landlords.
Tenants place greater value on relationships than legal protections
Despite disagreements over the legislation, landlords and tenants placed considerable importance on relationships when assessing tenancy security.
Among tenants, 27% identified a good relationship with their landlord as the most important factor.
Another 25% pointed to effective communication and management by letting agents, while 20% selected legal protections.
Landlords placed even greater emphasis on relationships.
Some 44% of LRG landlords and 65% of LandlordZone landlords identified a good landlord-tenant relationship as the leading factor in providing security.
By contrast, just 7% of LRG landlords and 3% of LandlordZone landlords selected legal protections.
The findings suggest that day-to-day property management and communication remain important to tenants, regardless of the additional legal safeguards.
‘Fewer than four in ten tenants feel more secure’
Allison Thompson, chief lettings officer at Leaders, part of LRG, said the contrasting responses reflected different experiences of the private rented sector.
“The difference in opinion is understandable because landlords and tenants came to this reform from different experiences.
“Many tenants wanted greater reassurance that they could build their lives in a rented home without being asked to leave unexpectedly.
“At the same time, most LRG landlords had never used Section 21 and saw a well-run tenancy with a reliable tenant as something to protect, not end.”
Thompson said the findings demonstrated that legislative change alone had not necessarily improved tenants’ perceptions of security.
“Five months after the change, it is significant that fewer than four in ten tenants feel more secure.
“Legislation establishes important protections, but security is also created through fair treatment, a well-maintained home, clear expectations and confidence that someone will respond when help is needed.”
