A THIRD of private renters could still be forced out of their homes after long-awaited legislation to better protect tenants takes effect, new research has found, due to a lack of protection from unaffordable rent increases.

The Renters’ Rights Bill, currently in its final stages in the House of Lords, will ban section 21 “no fault” evictions and introduce more rights and protections.

But campaigners warned today that the legislation would fail to stop landlords using rent rises as a backdoor method of forcing tenants out.

Polling commissioned by the Renters Reform Coalition (RRC) shows that 34 per cent could be forced out by a rent hike of £110 per month, equating to a rise of 7.9 per cent and in line with the average annual rent increase in England.

While the government says it will “empower” renters to challenge unreasonable rises at a tribunal, the RRC found that the average decision made by tribunals in the first half of 2025 resulted in tenants receiving rent increases of more than £240 a month.

According to the survey, if faced with a £110 per month rent increase, four million people said they would “definitely” be forced to move home, including over 29 per cent of renters with children.

Almost a quarter said they would have to cut back on essentials such as food and energy bills to afford the new rent.

Rent tribunals are unlikely to help tenants stay in their homes, the research found.

More than half of renters said they did not know that rent tribunals existed and only 14 per cent said they would be “very likely” to use one to challenge a rise.

RRC analysis of tribunal decisions in 2025 shows the average gap between original rents and tribunal-set rents was £244.63 a month — equivalent to a 22.2 per cent increase.

Tribunals approved rent rises in over 90 per cent of cases, including properties in a serious state of disrepair or where conditions were unhealthy.

RRC director Tom Darling said: “The Renters’ Rights Bill is long overdue. It will give renters more rights and protections and should help drive up housing standards.

“But the rent rise eviction loophole is a serious gap in the legislation… [and] the government’s proposed solution will not address this.

“But a cap on rent increases would be simple to implement, putting money back into renters’ pockets and giving them real long-term security in their homes.”