Together, we won new rights for renters

What was the problem?

For years, renters have had to put up with many serious issues, including record levels of evictions, sky-high rent increases, discrimination, and demands to pay several months' rent in advance at the start of a contract. Because of this, renters have faced constant insecurity and been unable to put down roots.

The Renters' Rights Bill was a once-in-a-generation opportunity to overhaul our broken private renting sector and improve the lives of England's 11 million private renters ─ finally tackling issues that had been left for far too long.

Roots of large tree with a banner on cardboard across the base of the tree saying 'help renters put down roots'.

How we fought for renters' rights

For over six years, hundreds of thousands of us have campaigned together tirelessly to transform renters' rights and make the Renters’ Rights Bill as strong as possible. Working with our supporters ─ with over a hundred thousand petition signatures, thousands of emails sent to politicians, and pressure put on the government behind the scenes ─ we fought for change at every step of the way.

Thanks to our campaigning:

renters have a much stronger bill than they did before the election. In April 2024, we declared that the previous government's Renters (Reform) Bill was a failure and withdrew support for it ─ committing only to fight for a bill that would really transform renters' lives
the Renters’ Rights Bill brought forward by the new government in September 2024 was a strong one and a big improvement on the previous government’s bill
the new government made an important addition to the bill in January 2025 to limit the amount of rent that can be requested in advance to just one month
landlords also can’t re-let their property following an eviction on the grounds of moving back in or selling for a full 12 months (this is up from the three months originally proposed by the previous government)
renters will now keep their right to homelessness assistance after receiving an eviction notice (this was going to be taken away from renters in the previous government's bill)

Celebrating the Renters' Rights Bill

Transcript

After six years of campaigning, the Renter's Rights Bill is finally being turned into law.

Tens of thousands of us took action, signing petitions, writing letters, lobbying MPs and telling friends about the campaign.

We organised in our communities. We worked together in coalitions. We stood up to vested interests and spoke out when what was being promised simply wasn't good enough.

The result is proof that campaigning works.

We fought for real change. Section 21 'no fault' evictions will soon be history.

Once in force, this bill will strengthen renters’ rights forever.

Amongst other things, it puts an end to excessive rent in advance demands, it creates a landlord register, so that tenants will know who their landlord is and their track record, and it makes discriminating against renters claiming benefits unlawful.

For years renters have been demanding that the government fix renting.

It’s taken seven different housing secretaries but eventually, together, we won.

Because no matter how hard it got, we never gave up.

Now, England's 11 million private renters are more secure in their homes.

This is why we fight for home.

Because, together, we can win.

What we achieved together

By campaigning together, the Renters’ Rights Bill has now finally become law and will change the lives of private renters.

With Royal Assent secured, the government can now set a date for when they will implement the reforms. When these changes do come into effect, renters across England will benefit from new rights and a fairer renting system.

This success shows what's possible through collective campaigning. Alongside colleagues from across the sector and our supporters, we all worked hard to keep the pressure on the government to deliver a bill fit for the future of renting.

Together, we did it. We helped to make renting fairer in England.