Briefing: Putting on the stabilisers - Protecting private renters from unaffordable rent rises

A third of private renters spend half or more of their income on rent.

The Renters Reform Bill offers a crucial opportunity to tackle a major cause of instability in England’s private rented sector, the lack of regulation of rent increases during the term of a tenancy.

Despite the end of Section 21, the back door will remain open to ‘no-fault’ evictions if the Bill fails to prevent large rent hikes beyond a tenants’ means from being used to force renters from their homes.

Sensible measures to stabilise the rate at which rents increase during the term of a tenancy, which are core to greater security of tenure in other countries, would balance tenants’ right to a secure, affordable and stable home with landlords’ need to reasonably cover cost increases.