1 May 2026
The Bishop of Chelmsford and Church of England Lead Bishop for Housing, the Rt Rev'd Dr Guli Francis-Dehqani writes about the Renters Rights Act which has come into force today.
Today, the provisions of the Renters Rights Act come into force, constituting a major reform of the private rented sector (PRS), which has provided homes for almost a fifth of all UK households over the past decade.
For tenants, the Act offers the prospect of greater certainty, security and higher standards. Meanwhile, many smaller landlords are concerned that it will become more difficult for them to make ends meet, and some have already begun selling up.
It will be important to allow time for evaluating these reforms from a long-term perspective. For much of this century, house prices have outstripped incomes, making it harder for people to buy their own home. Coupled with the steady decline in social housing for those on lower incomes, the PRS has been forced to absorb these additional households. This has created a power imbalance between landlords and tenants, giving rise to some of the unfair practices the Act now seeks to curb.
Private renting was once seen as a short-term solution, or a stepping stone towards home ownership, but it has in effect become a longer-term housing tenure. The Renters Rights Act provides a more suitable framework for this reality, raising standards, weeding out more opportunistic landlords, and encouraging greater professionalism across the sector.
But it is not only landlords who can be rogues —some tenants are too. Critics of the Act argue that it will take longer for landlords to evict problematic tenants, particularly if tribunals are not properly resourced. The increased risks and pressures on landlords are already driving some out of the sector, which could in turn push rents higher.
Over the next couple of years, the transition may well be bumpy, but it will be worthwhile if it leads to a fairer system in the long term—one that works for both tenants and landlords.
However, achieving this will require more than regulation alone. What is really needed are stronger relationships between tenants and landlords, grounded in mutual respect, transparency and a shared concern for the property. Landlords want reliable tenants who pay on time and take care of the home, while tenants want responsive landlords who maintain the property and charge a fair rent.
From a Christian perspective, this is a matter of good stewardship. This concept reflects the biblical view that the earth belongs to God, and that human beings are its tenants—entrusted not only to enjoy it, but also to care for it for future generations. In this sense, it does not belong to current “owners” in any absolute way.
The Renters Rights Act presupposes something of an adversarial relationship between landlords and tenants—the clue is in the title. A stewardship perspective, however, encourages both owner and renter to collaborate around their shared interest in the property as a long-term investment and a stable home. This, in turn, fosters a sense of mutual responsibility and respect—providing a solid foundation for a healthy private rented sector in the future.
+Guli Chelmsford
Photo by James Feaver on Unsplash