Two thirds of London renters either have not heard of the Renters’ Rights Act or do not understand what it means for them, according to new research from the London Assembly’s housing committee – raising concerns that landlords could face confused tenants when major reforms take effect on 1 May.

Assembly calls for mayor to act

The committee warned that low awareness could undermine the legislation’s effectiveness and has called on Mayor Sadiq Khan to launch a London-wide communications campaign before the deadline.

In a letter published this week, members argued that the mayor’s communications should use all available channels, including digital platforms and advertising across the Transport for London network, coordinated with boroughs, renters’ organisations and housing charities.

Zoë Garbett, chair of the housing committee at the London Assembly, said: “The Renters’ Rights Act will introduce major changes to renting, but these reforms will only work if renters know about them and feel confident exercising their rights when faced with unlawful behaviour from non-compliant landlords. “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.”

This follows Residential Landlord’s coverage of the government’s release of draft RRA forms, which showed landlords face significant new compliance requirements from May.

What the RRA changes

The first phase of the legislation will introduce several major changes to the private rented sector:

• The abolition of Section 21 no-fault evictions
• The end of fixed-term tenancies, with all assured tenancies becoming periodic
• Bans on rental bidding and advance rent payments beyond one month
• A mandatory information sheet that landlords must provide to all tenants by 31 May

The low awareness figure is particularly concerning for landlords who may find themselves dealing with tenants who do not understand the new rules around rent increases. Under the RRA, landlords can only raise rent once per year using a Section 13 notice, and tenants can challenge increases at tribunal for just £47.

Landlords may bear the burden

The findings suggest that landlords and letting agents may need to spend additional time explaining the new framework to tenants, potentially adding to administrative costs at a time when the sector is already adapting to significant regulatory change.

Industry experts have previously warned that the transition period could create friction between landlords and tenants who have different understandings of their rights and obligations.

The London Assembly has requested that Mayor Khan ensure information reaches renters before the law comes into force on 1 May. The housing committee’s letter emphasised that without proactive communication, the government’s flagship rental reform could fail to deliver its intended protections.

Opinion

The London Assembly’s findings expose a significant gap between policy intention and on-the-ground reality. With just five weeks until the biggest changes to renting in a generation take effect, the fact that two thirds of tenants remain unaware raises questions about whether the government has done enough to prepare the sector. Landlords may find themselves not only adapting to new rules but also educating their tenants about them – an additional burden that was not part of the original policy design.