London boroughs are still finalising their enforcement plans for the Renters’ Rights Act with just five weeks until the legislation takes effect, according to Freedom of Information responses obtained by Landlord Knowledge.
The revelations come as Mayor Sadiq Khan announced a £400,000 Renters’ Rights Enforcement Fund to train local authority officers and fund tenant awareness campaigns ahead of the 1 May deadline.
Councils unprepared despite government deadlines
Brent Council told Landlord Knowledge: “The Council is currently reviewing the requirements of the new legislation and considering all available options to enable its effective implementation. However, at the present time, plans are still under development and have not yet been finalised.”
Wandsworth Council said: “The Council’s service parameters and related policy with regard to the Renters Rights Act 2025 are still under review. The Council remains operationally resilient to accommodate action within its current staffing base across the broad themes within the act.”
By contrast, Liverpool City Council – outside London but facing the same deadline – confirmed it has 34 full-time equivalent staff in its Private Sector Housing team and will be “operationally ready” on 1 May, with a new enforcement policy going to cabinet in April.
The mixed responses raise questions about whether Khan’s £400,000 fund will be sufficient to bring all 33 London boroughs up to enforcement readiness before the Act takes effect.
Mayor renews rent control push
Alongside the enforcement funding, Khan renewed his campaign for the government to devolve rent control powers to London – but with a significant carve-out for Build to Rent developments.
Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London, said: “We are seeing the biggest expansion of renters rights for a generation – this is a change that I have long called for and will transform the lives of London’s 2.7m renters.”
The proposal to exempt Build to Rent from any future rent caps acknowledges that restricting returns could deter institutional investment – a point landlord groups have consistently made about rent control policies. Private landlords would not receive the same exemption.
This follows Residential Landlord’s coverage of London Assembly research showing 65 percent of London renters remain unaware of the RRA just weeks before implementation.
Activist groups want legal fighting fund
Campaign group Generation Rent called for Khan to go further, proposing a “legal fighting fund” using public money to help councils pursue landlords through the courts.
Generation Rent said: “Many local authorities are understandably cautious about pursuing complex or costly cases, particularly when landlords operate across borough boundaries.”
The group also wants Khan to expand the Property Licence Checker service so tenants can more easily identify offences qualifying for Rent Repayment Orders – allowing tenants to reclaim up to 12 months’ rent from landlords found guilty of housing offences.
With councils already struggling with possession case backlogs and the government only recently releasing draft RRA forms, the readiness gap between rhetoric and reality is becoming increasingly apparent.
Opinion
The FOI responses paint a concerning picture. Councils are admitting they have not finalised their plans with five weeks to go, while the Mayor announces a fund that amounts to around £12,000 per borough. That will not transform enforcement capacity. Landlords should expect uneven application of the new rules across London – with well-prepared councils like Liverpool setting a standard that others may take months to match.
