Millions of renters in London will soon be able to use money from a £400,000 fund to take their landlords to court, it has been revealed.
The fund, which is set to become available when the Renters’ Rights Act comes into force on May 1, is designed to support tenants in challenging rogue landlords who fail to meet their legal obligations.
The Act will introduce several new protections for private tenants, both new and existing, in a bid to shake up the rental sector.
Section 21 “no-fault” evictions will be abolished, fixed-term tenancies will replace rolling weekly or monthly contracts, bidding wars will be banned and landlords will be prohibited from discriminating against renters with children or those on benefits, among other protections.
There are estimated to be around 2.7million private renters in London who make up roughly 32% of all households in the capital.
The Renter’s Right’s Act is considered to be the most significant reform of the private rental sector in 40 years, aiming to “level the playing field” between tenants and landlords.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan has announced the Renters’ Rights Enforcement Fund will be made available to renters’ unions and councils to fund the training of officers who will enforce the Act.
The Mayor said he hoped the fund would “mean that renters’ support organisations will have more resources to make sure the new rules are upheld so that rogue landlords are held to account”.
But experts say a major risk to the Act is that renters may not know or understand their new rights.
Recent research by the TDS Charitable Foundation found that 7 in 10 renters either haven't heard of the Act or do not understand how it affects them. A March 2026 study for the London Assembly confirmed similar figures, with 65% of London renters unaware or confused about the changes.
Dr Jennifer Harris, Head of Policy, Research and Social Impact at the TDS Charitable Foundation, described the Renter’s Right’s Act as a “landmark opportunity to empower tenants and hold the minority of landlords who break the rules to account.”
But, she said, “our research makes one thing clear: awareness is dangerously low, and without urgent action, these reforms risk falling flat.”
Ben Twomey from Generation Rent argues that funding tenant support organisations would help ensure the law actually reaches people and improves their lives.
Khan has also renewed calls for the Government to grant local mayors the authority to introduce rent caps in their cities — a proposal also supported by Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham.
However, rent controls are not currently part of national Government policy, and there are no plans to devolve such powers to local leaders.
A March 2026 YouGov poll commissioned by the Greater London Authority found that 75% of Londoners support a cap on annual rent increases.
Support is highest among social renters (85%) and private renters (83%), with only 9% opposing the measure, according to the findings used by Mayor Sadiq Khan to advocate for rent control powers.
A Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government spokesperson said: “Our landmark Renters’ Rights Act already gives tenants the right to directly challenge excessive rent hikes, as well as capping advance payments to one month’s rent and banning unfair bidding wars.
“We’ll continue working with local leaders to support the implementation of the Act, which will create a fairer housing market for people in London and across the country.”press
