The Renters' Rights Act

At Hackney Doorways, we welcome the progress that the Renter’s Right Act brings for renters, particularly the end to ‘no fault’ evictions through section 21 notices. Earlier this year,government data found that 11,400 households in England were removed from their homes by bailiffs because of a Section 21 no-fault eviction between July 2024 and June 2025.
Until the Act comes into force, we’re continuing to see the impact of section 21 at Hackney Night Shelter. For instance, one of our guests was a teaching assistant who had been living at her property for almost 10 years. After a dispute with her landlord, she was extremely distressed to be evicted from her home and relieved to be able to stay at Hackney Night Shelter while resolving her situation to settle back into longer-term housing.  

Improved protection for tenants like the yearly cap on rent increases will also help prevent renters in London from facing homelessness.
Another step forward is outlawing the practice of not renting to tenants who have children or are in receipt of benefits, which removes a barrier that many people are facing in accessing accommodation.
Along with many organisations across the sector, we hope to see the Act come into force as soon as possible to give renters these much needed protections and prevent more people from having to sleep on the streets this winter.