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Whilst the introduction of the Renters’ Rights Act brings in significant reforms for the private rented sector to provide greater security for tenants, we know that affordability remains the biggest challenge for those living in privately rented housing. With a new Prime Minister in Downing Street, there has been much speculation about the possibility of Andy Burnham’s introduction of rent controls – a policy he previously supported as Mayor of Manchester. Whilst Burnham has since rejected the idea, which is widely supported across tenure types, housing campaigners continue to put the pressure on the government to bring in measures to make rents more affordable. Join Generation Rent’s campaign to introduce a limit on rent increases, linked to the Consumer Price Inflation level, or to local wage growth, to prevent renters being priced out of their homes. In the meantime, the Renters’ Rights Act does bring a fairer rent increase system than we previously had. Since 1 May 2026, your landlord can now only increase your rent once a year, and can only use the formal Section 13 notice procedure in order to do so – even if you have an existing tenancy with a ‘rent review’ clause. So if your
The Renters’ Rights Act finally come into force from 1 May 2026. If you already had a tenancy in the private rented sector, you may be wondering how the new law will affect you. Our blog post explains some of the key changes for you if you have a tenancy that started before 1 May. Assured Periodic Tenancies All Assured Shorthold Tenancies that started before 1 May are now automatically assured periodic tenancies. The exception to this is if your landlord issued a valid notice of possession before 1 May, in which case the old rules will apply. An assured periodic tenancy is rolling, so your tenancy now runs indefinitely, usually on a monthly basis, with no set end date. Even if you were in the middle of a fixed-term tenancy, your tenancy will now automatically become rolling. Tenancy agreements Your landlord doesn’t need to create a new tenancy agreement, but they need to give you the government’s official Information Sheet outlining the Renters’ Rights Act and how the changes will affect you. They need to give you this Information Sheet by 31 May at the latest. If you didn’t have a written tenancy agreement before 1 May (i.e. you
We’re holding our first Southwark Private Renters’ Fair on Saturday 30 May at the Rockingham Community Centre! With the Renters’ Rights Act coming into force from 1 May, we’re working with Southwark Council, legal and community organisations in the borough to make sure renters are getting the support they need to access their rights, and understand how the changes in law will affect them. Who is the event aimed at? All private renters living in Southwark are welcome to attend the fair. What kind of issues can I get help with at the fair? You can get help with a range of issues affecting your private renting experience, including: Tenancy relations (e.g. eviction, harassment) Disrepair Licensing issues (e.g. report an unlicensed property) Rent repayment orders Deposits Welfare benefits Cost of living Community support Which services and organisations can I access at the fair? A range of council services, charities and legal organisations will be at the fair and you can get help from their teams on a drop-in basis. Officers from the council’s Private Rented Sector Enforcement Service and Tenancy Relations Service will be available to provide advice and support. Check our Eventbrite to find out more. Sign up
We need local politicians to support the National Housing Demonstration on Saturday 18 April who will champion our demands for rent controls and council housing development. The upcoming local elections on 7 May make this a crucial time to get councillors and candidates to show their commitment to helping solve the housing crisis. Use our template letters to send to candidates standing in the local elections, asking them to join us at the National Housing Demonstration, and to use their platform to help make affordable housing a reality in Southwark! If a councillor or candidate responds to you, we’d love to hear about it, so please let us know by emailing us at privaterenters@citizensadvicesouthwark.org.uk. Use this letter to contact current councillors. You can find the councillors in your area by entering your postcode here. Will you support the National Housing Demonstration? Dear Councillor [Councillor Name], I’m writing as a [Ward] resident to ask you to support a growing national campaign calling for rent controls and mass investment in council housing, and to invite you to join us at a national housing demonstration in central London on Saturday 18 April. This is a crucial moment for renters. The Renters’ Rights Act
¡Esta publicación también está disponible en español más abajo! Unsure about how the Renters’ Rights Act is going to affect you as a private renter? Our explainer below shows the changes to your rights before and after 1 May. habrá cambios significativos en los derechos de los inquilinos tras la Ley de Derechos de los Inquilinos (Renters Rights Act) a partir del 1 de mayo de 2026. Let us know your thoughts about changes to your rights under the Renters’ Rights Act! Get in touch with us by emailing privaterenters@citizensadvicesouthwark.gov.uk.
Camden Private Renters’ Week is taking place on Monday 16 March – Saturday 21 March. It’s an opportunity for renters to get expert advice, support with housing, and learn about our new rights being introduced through the Renters’ Rights Act. You don’t need to be a Camden resident to attend any of these events – anyone from Southwark, or any other London borough can attend! More information and registration details are available on the Camden Private Renters’ website.
Join us on Saturday 18 April for the national housing demonstration demanding the introduction of rent controls and investment in council housing to bring an end to the housing crisis. Sky-rocketing housing costs are destroying our ability to live decent lives. Unaffordable rents are pushing people out of the neighbourhoods we call home, hollowing out our communities, and making it impossible to live with dignity and security. But it doesn’t have to be this way. Before the 1980s, the government set the amount of rent that landlords could charge and invested at scale in secure, affordable council housing. Across Europe, housing movements have ben fighting for rent controls and are winning. Rent controls are being introduced in Scotland after a campaign by tenants’ union Living Rent and they are keeping the cost of living down in Berlin, Barcelona, Vienna and more cities across Europe. We can do the same here! Now is the time to demand the government go further and make housing genuinely affordable again. By getting organised and taking to the streets, we can show tht government, the media and the general public the depth of support for rent controls and investment in council housing. How to get
Hello from Southwark Private Renters’ Support Project! Our February newsletter invites you to our next Cost of Living Roadshow, encourages you to join us in the fight for rent controls, and shares news from local campaigning for affordable housing in the Old Kent Road area! Cost of Living Roadshow The next Cost of Living Roadshow will be at Silverlock TRA Hall, Warndon Street, London SE16 2SB on Wednesday 25 February, 10am-1pm. You can get support from Southwark Council’s Private Rented Sector Tenancy Relations Service on issues including: Eviction or threat of eviction Harassment from your landlord Homeless applications and related issues. You can also access other cost of living related services including: Southwark Council Financial Inclusion: For help if you’re struggling to pay your rent and need a Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP) Southwark Council Allocations: For help with your council housing bidding account. Department for Work and Pensions (DWP): For help if you’re having issues with your benefits. You don’t need to book an appointment, just turn up on the day to speak with these, and other services that can help you deal with the cost of living. Winning the fight for rent controls! Homes for Us is hosting a
With Section 21 eviction notices on their way out later this year through the Renters’ Rights Act, many private renters are currently still vulnerable to ‘no-fault’ eviction as landlords can take their final opportunity to use this power. It’s important that renters understand our rights when it comes to Section 21 evictions. Many Section 21 notices are not valid, which means a landlord cannot use it to evict you, and you may be able to stay in your home. What is Section 21? A Section 21 notice is a notice that a landlord can serve to a private renter with an Assured Shorthold Tenancy (AST) to begin the legal process to end the tenancy – in other words, to evict you. A valid Section 21 notice needs to be served using the correct form, called form 6A, in its current version. It looks like this: Reasons your Section 21 notice might be invalid include: Because your landlord didn’t use the current form 6A Because your landlord provided incorrect information on the form, such as the wrong address or name Because the landlord isn’t giving you 2 months’ notice Because you’re in the first 4 months of a new tenancy, or
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