New research from Pegasus Insight has revealed a wide disparity in tenant awareness of the upcoming Renters’ Rights Bill (RRB) and mixed expectations of how the legislation will affect them.
The latest Tenant Trends report shows that while 32% of tenants say they are either “fully aware” or “mostly aware” of the Bill’s contents, a much larger proportion—43%—admit they are only “slightly aware” or “not aware at all.”
A further 20% said they are “somewhat aware,” indicating familiarity with the main points but uncertainty over the details.
When asked about the potential impact of the RRB, 13% of tenants said they expected a significant positive impact, and 31% anticipated a slight positive effect. However, 19% believe the legislation will have no impact, while 6% predict it will be negative. Notably, 31% of respondents said they were unsure what the effects would be.
Among those who see benefits, better living standards, stronger security of tenure—particularly through the proposed end to no-fault evictions—and limits on rent increases were highlighted as the most welcome outcomes. On the other hand, a reduced supply of rental homes and higher rents emerged as key concerns.
Notably, 27% of tenants expect their rent to increase as a result of the Bill. This fear appears to be substantiated by Pegasus Insight’s separate Q4 2024 Landlord Survey, in which 62% of landlords indicated they would raise rents to offset losses they anticipate from the RRB’s implementation.
The report also sheds light on tenant mobility. Two-thirds of renters said they plan to stay in their current property when their tenancy ends. Among those considering or planning a move, the main drivers were relocation (32%), the need for a different size property (26%), or plans to buy their own home (24%).
However, one in 10 renters said they would be moving because their landlord had ended the tenancy. Within this group, the most common reason cited was the landlord’s intention to sell the property, cited by 56%—a sharp rise from 37% a year ago. Other reasons included raising the rent (22%, up from 12%) or the landlord moving in themselves (16%, unchanged).
Mark Long, founder and director of Pegasus Insight, said the findings highlight a pressing need for better tenant education on the legislation: “Our latest Tenant Trends Research Report suggests more needs to be done to educate renters about the new legislation set to be implemented by this Autumn, as a significant proportion of tenants know little to nothing about the imminent changes to their rights.”
He also warned that tenant concerns about rising rents and a shrinking rental market are not without basis: “In terms of the impact the Bill is likely to have on the market, the 27% of tenants who believe that rents will increase as a result look likely to have their fears borne out. In fact, responding to our Landlord Survey Q4 2024, 62% of landlords said they will look to recoup potential losses incurred as a result of the new legislation by putting rents up.”
“While the government is holding fast to its claim that the RRB will not force landlords out of the Private Rented Sector, the fact that more than half (56%) of those who have given their tenants notice to quit plan to sell the property, up from 37% a year ago, is surely significant. Again, tenant concerns that the Bill will lead to a reduced supply of properties appear well-founded.”
