Renters’ Rights Bill “Unworkable” Without Urgent Clarity, Industry Leaders Warn

The UK government’s flagship Renters’ Rights Bill is facing mounting criticism from key players in the property sector, who warn that the proposed reforms will be unworkable without urgent and detailed clarification. As the House of Lords prepares to consider the Bill again on 1 July, landlord associations and property organisations have expressed serious concerns over the lack of direction and transparency from ministers.

Central to the legislation is the abolition of Section 21 “no-fault” evictions, a move intended to strengthen tenant protections. However, leading bodies including the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA), the British Property Federation, and The Lettings Industry Council argue that the government has yet to provide clear guidance on how these changes will be implemented in practice.

One of the most pressing issues is the government’s claim that the court system will be “ready” for an expected increase in possession claims. Without any specific plans or timelines for improving court capacity or reducing existing backlogs, landlords remain uncertain about how and when they will be able to recover properties in legitimate cases.

The Bill also proposes new powers for tenants to challenge above-market rent increases through tribunals. However, industry leaders point out that the UK currently lacks a centralised, reliable data source for determining local market rents. This, they argue, could lead to inconsistent rulings and further legal disputes, undermining the Bill’s objectives.

Further complications arise around proposals concerning rent arrears linked to delayed benefit payments. As landlords are not permitted to know whether a tenant is receiving benefits, it is nearly impossible to determine the cause of arrears unless a case reaches court. This could severely hinder landlords’ ability to manage tenancies fairly and effectively.

With no confirmed timeline for when the new rules would come into effect, the property sector is calling for a more structured and transparent rollout. While organisations remain supportive of rental reform in principle, they stress that practical implementation and legislative clarity are essential to avoid destabilising the sector and deterring responsible landlords from remaining in the market.