Most tenants still do not understand how the Renters’ Rights Act will affect them, suggesting landlords and agents are about to enter the new regime with a large information gap on the other side of the tenancy.
Research from Housing Hand found only around one in five tenants said they understood their rights under the Act, while 29% said they did not know what the legislation was and 37% said they had heard of it but did not know what it involved.
Tenant confusion could create more friction after 1 May
Nearly half of renters surveyed said they found the rental market confusing. Among student renters, confidence was lower still, with fewer than one in five saying they understood what the new rules meant for them.
That matters for landlords because reforms do not settle in cleanly when one side of the tenancy barely understands the new framework. Misunderstandings over notice, pets, rent increases or complaint routes can quickly become disputes, even where the landlord has followed the rules.
This follows Residential Landlord’s coverage of Section 21 ending as the Renters’ Rights Act takes effect, which showed how much of the early attention has focused on landlord compliance. The latest survey suggests another problem is building in parallel: tenants may gain new rights faster than they understand how to use them.
Landlords may need clearer communication, not just better paperwork
For landlords, the practical warning is that standard template wording may no longer be enough. Clear explanations at move-in, better written records and tighter handling of queries could matter more in the first few months than many expect.
There is also a forward look here. As awareness grows, tenant behaviour may change too. Housing Hand found some renters who understood the Act were already considering changing the kind of property they chose. That may add another layer of churn in parts of the market already adjusting to the post-Section 21 rules.
Landlords dealing with student or first-time renters should read this alongside Residential Landlord’s earlier warning on day-one RRA compliance, because the greatest risk may come where legal change meets weak communication.
Housing Hand has published wider renter guidance through its tenant support resources.
Opinion
The government has spent months telling landlords to prepare, but less effort seems to have gone into making sure tenants understand the system they are entering. That mismatch could keep disputes high even where landlords do their part. Better rights only work properly when both sides know where they stand.
