"If tenants aren't aware of their rights, they are far less likely to raise issues with their letting agents or landlords, or to challenge situations where those rights may not be upheld"
- Sim Sekhon - Propoly
New research suggests that a significant proportion of tenants remain largely unaware of the Renters' Rights Act, despite the legislation representing one of the most substantial shifts in tenant protections the private rented sector has seen.
Lettings platform Propoly surveyed 1,050 UK tenants and found that 36% have little to no knowledge of the Act, while 88% have made no effort to contact their landlord or letting agent for guidance on how the changes might affect them. The same proportion have also not sought information from other sources, including solicitors, online resources, or tenant advocacy organisations.
Only a quarter of respondents describe themselves as "very familiar" with the legislation. More than a third say they are either aware of it by name alone or have no knowledge of it at all, pointing to a clear gap between the scale of legislative reform and actual tenant engagement.
Among the minority who have taken steps to understand the Act, specific questions are already emerging. Changes to tenancy structures, including the abolition of Assured Shorthold Tenancies, are the most commonly raised issue, cited by 26% of this group.
Questions around revised rent increase rules follow at 21%, alongside strengthened legal obligations for property standards, including damp and mould. A further 18% say they sought advice to understand how the Act affects pet ownership rights.
Confidence levels also reveal a divided picture. While 60% of tenants feel confident in their understanding of how the Act will affect their tenancy, 40% do not, suggesting a continued need for clearer communication across much of the sector.
Those who do have concerns point most frequently to rent increases, cited by 23% of worried respondents.
Around 17% expressed concern about the possibility of more frequent or stringent property inspections, while others raised questions about whether landlords might pursue evictions based on minor infractions under the new regulatory landscape. By contrast, 44% report having no concerns at all about the upcoming changes.
"The Renters' Rights Act represents a significant moment for the lettings sector, and its success will largely depend on how well tenants understand and engage with it," said Sim Sekhon, group chief executive at Propoly.
"If tenants aren't aware of their rights, they are far less likely to raise issues with their letting agents or landlords, or to challenge situations where those rights may not be upheld. In many ways, awareness is the mechanism that turns policy into real, lived improvement.
"The good news is that tenants are very much in favour of the Act, and excited to enjoy greater security and protections in their home, so when agents and landlords do communicate the changes to them, it is almost universally well received."
