Days after the Renters Rights Act came into force, a survey shows massive ignorance of the issue amongst renters.
A study by industry supplier Housing Hand reveals that 78% of renters don’t know how it impacts their rights.
Only 22% of tenants felt they did – down from 25% in a similar study a year ago.
Around 1,700 renters took part in the survey, including student renters and working professionals.
At the time the survey was undertaken, three months prior to the Act’s implementation date, 88% of renters admitted they didn’t know when that date was.
A Housing Hand spokesperson comments: “Confusion is rife in the rental sector, with significant knowledge gaps among tenants as to precisely what the Renters Rights Act is and how it affects them.
“Such large-scale change is, of course, never entirely smooth sailing, but it seems there is still much to be done in terms of getting the message out there about how renting is changing.”
The need for clarity of information is clear; Housing Hand found that 42% of renters find the UK rental market “confusing” right now.
Of the 22% of renters who feel confident they understand the Act’s implications for their rights (a figure that drops to 19% for student renters), many are considering the longer-term impact of the changes on different types of tenancies.
One in five renters who understand the Act say they will choose to rent a different type of property due to the changes it introduces, while another 27% may consider doing so.
The spokesperson goes on: “The next couple of years will be a very interesting time for the rental sector, as tenants’ choices reflect a growing appreciation for their new rights.
“Understanding of the Renters’ Rights Act may be limited currently, but as awareness grows we will see the sector evolve in new ways and stand ready to support both our renter clients and accommodation providers and landlords through these changes.”
The report also delves into how tenants feel about renting, how far in advance they plan their rental finances, their understanding of guarantors, Right to Rent checks and depositless schemes.
The full report is here: Understanding Renters in 2026
Meanwhile a similar survey from Rightmove – of 1,087 renters – shows uncertainty is particularly pronounced among young renters aged 18–34.
More than a third (35%) of renters in this age group say they are not confident in their understanding of their rights, while many describe their experience of renting as uncertain (38%) or stressful (31%).
Almost half (47%) of younger renters say they have previously chosen not to report an issue in a rental property, with the highest reason being because it felt like ‘too much hassle’ (47%).
More broadly, a third (34%) of all renters say they have avoided raising a problem, most commonly because they were worried it might affect their tenancy (41%), felt the issue wouldn’t be fixed (37%), or felt it would cause trouble (35%).
Despite these concerns, renters are broadly positive about the principle of stronger protections.
Over a third (38%) of renters say stronger protection against being asked to leave without reason would make them more likely to stay longer in their current home, while just 1% say it would make them less likely to stay.
