May

Citizens Advice helping hundreds of tenants as Renters’ Rights Act comes into force

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Citizens Advice helping hundreds of tenants as Renters’ Rights Act comes into force

A charity claims it is helping more than 200 renters a day with a combination of issues, including disrepair, Section 21 evictions and rent hikes, as the Renters’ Rights Act comes into effect.

According to Citizens Advice, in March 2026, it helped 2,335 people with Section 21 evictions, 1,829 with disrepair issues such as damp and mould, and just over 1,075 with rent increases.

Across the month, this equates to an average of 214 people a day supported with a combination of these issues.

Historic power imbalance in the PRS

Amy Hughes, advice manager at Citizens Advice, said: “The Renters’ Rights Act is a huge moment for private renters. It will address the historic power imbalance in the private rental sector and give tenants the security they deserve in their homes.

“Our advisers have seen the devastating impact ‘no fault’ evictions can have. Now landlords will only be able to evict tenants for specific reasons, like rent arrears, antisocial behaviour, or where they need to sell the property.

“For too long, tenants have faced the threat of eviction for simply speaking out against bad landlord behaviour or poor conditions. The new laws will see an end to these retaliatory practices and deliver a welcome boost to private renters’ rights.”

PRS plays a vital role

The news comes as the Renters’ Rights Act has now come into force, with charities previously warning of an eviction surge. Acorn told The Guardian that Section 21 evictions accounted for one in five reports from members in October, rising to nearly one in three by January.

However, as reported by The Independent, many landlords are weighing up their options, with rising costs and regulatory changes prompting some to reconsider their portfolios.

Megan Eighteen, president of Propertymark, told The Independent: “Higher mortgage rates, increased taxation and continued regulatory change have all contributed to some landlords reassessing whether their investment remains viable, particularly those with smaller portfolios or tighter margins.

“The private rented sector continues to play a vital role in meeting housing demand, and supporting responsible landlords to stay in the market is key to maintaining stability for both tenants and the wider housing system.”

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