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- Renters’ organisations to receive funding to help tenants understand their rights and get support when landlords break the rules
- Most of the Mayor’s £400,000 Renters’ Rights Enforcement Fund will go to these frontline organisations supporting renters, with remaining funding invested in training councils to enforce the new law
- Investment will support the new Renters’ Rights Act, set to help millions of Londoners
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has announced funding to ensure the Government’s landmark Renters’ Rights Act provides robust protection and improved conditions for the capital’s private renters.
As millions of renters gain strengthened legal rights, the Mayor has launched a three-year funding programme for up to two organisations to help tenants understand their rights, challenge rogue landlords, and secure justice.
Most of the Mayor’s £400,000 Renters’ Rights Enforcement Fund, which he launched in March fulfilling a manifesto commitment, will go directly to up to two organisations providing free advice and support to renters across London. Whether someone is facing dangerous housing conditions, an unfair rent increase or a landlord who refuses to follow the law, the funding will help ensure they have somewhere to turn.
The rest of the funding will help train council officers, so they have the knowledge and confidence to use the new powers available to them, crack down on rogue landlords and make sure renters' rights are properly enforced.
The investment comes as the Government's landmark Renters’ Rights Act delivers the biggest boost to tenants' rights in a generation, including ending Section 21 "no-fault" evictions and giving renters greater security in their homes.
Around 2.7 million Londoners rent privately. While many landlords treat their tenants correctly, too many renters are still living in damp, unsafe or poorly maintained homes, paying overly high rents or worrying that speaking up could put their tenancy at risk. The new law changes that, and this funding will help make sure Londoners benefit.
By backing trusted renters' organisations and strengthening council enforcement, the Mayor is helping ensure that tenants can stand up for themselves, challenge poor treatment and hold rogue landlords to account.
The fund builds on the Mayor's wider work to improve life for private renters, including supporting boroughs to take stronger action against rogue landlords, helping renters challenge bad practice and increasing the supply of genuinely affordable homes.
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “I will always stand up for London’s renters who deserve to feel secure in their homes and confident that they can challenge rogue landlords when their rights are ignored.
"The Renters’ Rights Act is a game changer for tenants. It gives millions of renters’ stronger rights and greater security. But those rights will only make a difference if people know about them, can use them and have somewhere to go for help.
"That's why I'm investing in organisations that will stand alongside renters, helping them challenge rogue landlords and get justice when their rights are ignored. At the same time, we're making sure councils have the training they need to enforce the new law so that bad landlords face the consequences of breaking the rules.
"Every Londoner deserves a safe, secure and decent home, and this investment will help ensure these new rights for renters are more than words on paper, as we build a safer, fairer London for everyone.”
Susie Dye, Housing programme Lead, Trust for London, said: “We welcome the Mayor’s commitment to ensuring London renters can use their rights under the Renters Rights Act. For too long, renters on low incomes didn’t feel they could complain about expensive, substandard homes. Either they didn’t know they had rights, or they were afraid of being evicted. The Act has at last weighed the scales in their favour, but we need to make sure people know about it. We welcome this funding, which will help those rights become a reality for many Londoners.“
Cllr Anthony Okereke, London Councils' Executive Member for Housing and Homelessness, said: "For too long, too many Londoners have put up with subpar housing conditions due to a lack of rights and protections in the private rented sector. This funding will empower tenants to understand and use their new rights under the Renters' Rights Act, giving them the support they need to challenge bad practice.
"It will also support borough enforcement by providing training to help councils protect tenants' rights and improve housing conditions across the capital. Plans to begin more than 6,000 Living Rent homes for key workers by 2030 are also welcome, helping to ensure the nurses, teachers and transport staff who keep the city running can afford to live in it."
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