London renters to get stronger support as £400,000 fund backs new rights
Thousands of private renters across London will have access to more support in challenging poor housing conditions and unlawful landlord behaviour under a new three-year funding programme backed by Mayor Sadiq Khan.
The Mayor has committed £400,000 through the Renters’ Rights Enforcement Fund, with most of the money due to go to up to two organisations providing free advice and assistance to private tenants across the capital.
The support is intended to help renters understand the protections available to them, challenge landlords who break the rules and pursue cases where housing conditions or tenancy arrangements fall below legal standards.
That could include situations involving unsafe or poorly maintained homes, disputed rent increases or landlords failing to meet their legal responsibilities.
Around 2.7 million people in London rent privately, making effective enforcement particularly important as new protections come into force under the Government’s Renters’ Rights Act.
One of the most significant changes is the ending of Section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions, which have allowed landlords to remove tenants without having to establish a specific reason. The legislation is intended to give renters greater security in their homes and strengthen their ability to challenge poor treatment.
The Mayor’s funding will also support training for council officers. The aim is to give borough enforcement teams the knowledge and confidence needed to use their expanded powers against landlords who repeatedly fail to comply with housing law.
While many landlords provide good-quality homes and follow the rules, the Mayor’s office says too many London renters continue to face problems including damp, unsafe accommodation, inadequate maintenance and excessive rents.
The new enforcement investment is part of wider work by City Hall to improve conditions for private renters, including helping boroughs tackle rogue landlords and supporting tenants who need assistance dealing with poor practice.
For London renters, the practical test will be whether stronger legal rights are matched by accessible advice and effective local enforcement. The new fund is intended to help close that gap.
The investment comes alongside the Mayor’s wider housing and planning agenda, including work to increase the supply of genuinely affordable homes across the capital.
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