What the Renters’ Rights Act means and why access to housing still matters
- kellyjaynemurray
- May 1
- 2 min read
More security for renters, but barriers remain
The Renters’ Rights Act comes into force today, bringing changes that will affect how people rent across England.
It is an important step and should give more security to people who are already in their homes. But for many of the people we work alongside, the biggest challenge comes much earlier, at the point of trying to find somewhere to live in the first place.
We see every day how difficult it can be to access housing, particularly for people facing complex situations or leaving services without a clear next step.
Our Chief Executive, Helen, shares her reflections on what the Act means in practice and where further change is still needed.
What the changes mean in practice
The Renters’ Rights Act comes into force today.
Greater security, an end to no fault evictions and a fairer framework for renters should make a real difference for many people and help prevent some people from losing their homes.
But while the Act strengthens security for people who already have a tenancy, it does not on its own address access to housing.
Access is still the barrier
For the people we work with, access is often the greatest barrier. Many experience homelessness in the context of wider pressures and gaps in the system, often shaped by long term experiences such as trauma or difficult life circumstances.
This can look different for different people. It includes people leaving prison or hospital without a housing option, people fleeing domestic abuse who need somewhere safe quickly, people sleeping rough who face significant barriers to re-entering the housing system, refugees navigating complex systems, and the long-standing shortage of authorised sites for travelling communities.
Who is being left behind
People on low incomes, including those who rely on benefits, are likely to remain at a disadvantage. While the Act aims to reduce discrimination, landlords can still apply affordability checks and referencing criteria that effectively filter out many of the people we support.
There is also a risk in how the market responds. If landlords become more cautious or selective, and if supply tightens while demand remains high, the impact will fall hardest on those who are already on the margins.
People with support needs, lower incomes or more complex histories may find it even harder to secure a tenancy in what is already a very challenging housing market.
What this means for the people we support
For our clients, this could mean more hidden homelessness, longer periods of rough sleeping, extended stays in temporary accommodation and fewer opportunities to move on from supported housing.
The Renters’ Rights Act should mean fewer people are pushed out of housing. But unless we focus on access as well as security, there is a real risk that more people are locked out altogether.
We will continue to work alongside people to navigate these challenges and to speak up about what needs to change so that everyone has a fair chance of accessing a safe and secure home.
