June’s housing news highlights increasing challenges for landlords and tenants alike, with rising demand for guarantors, concerns over compliance with the Renters’ Rights Act, and new government measures addressing excessive heat in social housing. Enforcement actions against rogue landlords continue, emphasising the importance of maintaining safe and compliant rental properties.

Rising Demand for Guarantors Among Tenants

The introduction of the Renters’ Rights Act has led to a significant increase in tenants failing affordability checks, with one in two tenants now more likely to be rejected. This is partly due to the prohibition of accepting large sums of rent in advance, which previously helped some tenants meet affordability criteria.

Current data shows the average monthly rent stands at £1,438, requiring tenants to earn £43,140 annually to pass affordability assessments. However, average earnings are lower, at £41,859, meaning nearly 20% of tenants across 288 local authorities may need a guarantor to secure a tenancy.

Sam Reynolds of Zero Deposits commented, “We expect guarantors to become an increasingly common requirement for renters who fall outside standard affordability criteria, particularly younger tenants, overseas applicants, self-employed workers, and those moving to high-cost rental areas.”

Concerns Over Landlord Compliance with New Legislation

A recent survey by Rushbrook & Rathbone reveals that only 32% of tenants are confident their landlord or letting agent fully complies with the Renters’ Rights Act. Among 1,105 tenants surveyed, 42% believe some compliance standards are unmet, while 26% are unsure if their landlord or agent is compliant at all.

Despite these concerns, 40% of tenants feel their homes meet the correct standards, though 91% have not observed significant improvements since the Act’s implementation.

Roma Sharma of Rushbrook & Rathbone stated, “For property managers, this is a clear moment of accountability. Those who fail to communicate transparently and act decisively risk falling short of both their legal obligations and tenant expectations.”

Government Expands Awaab’s Law to Address Excessive Heat

Following the introduction of Awaab’s Law, which requires social housing landlords to tackle hazards such as mould, the government is now extending the legislation to cover excessive heat and cold in homes. Research from the English Housing Survey found that in 2024, 10.6% of social housing tenants reported parts of their homes being uncomfortably hot.

Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook announced that the next phase of Awaab’s Law, effective from June, will provide councils with improved tools to assess hazards like excess heat more intuitively.

This development follows a notable case where residents claim their homes reached indoor temperatures of 43 degrees Celsius during summer, arguing the properties are “not fit for purpose” under the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018. The housing association involved maintains that the building met all relevant planning and building regulations at the time of construction.

As climate change continues to impact living conditions, this case may signal the start of more claims related to excessive heat in rental properties.

Enforcement Action Results in Substantial Penalty for Rogue Landlord

South Gloucestershire Council has imposed a £17,500 civil penalty on a landlord who failed to address category 1 hazards, including electrical and structural issues, despite previous enforcement notices. The council emphasised landlords’ legal duty to ensure property safety and warned that enforcement powers would be fully utilised where non-compliance risks tenant health and wellbeing.

What this means for landlords

Landlords must be vigilant in meeting the requirements of the Renters’ Rights Act, particularly regarding affordability checks and tenant support. The growing reliance on guarantors reflects tighter financial scrutiny, especially in higher-rent areas.

Compliance with new legislation remains under tenant scrutiny, making transparent communication and proactive property management essential to avoid reputational damage and legal consequences.

Additionally, the expansion of Awaab’s Law to include excessive heat hazards signals a shift in regulatory focus, requiring landlords—especially in social housing—to monitor and address indoor temperature issues as part of their duty of care.

Finally, enforcement actions against rogue landlords demonstrate the serious consequences of neglecting property safety standards, reinforcing the need for landlords to maintain rigorous health and safety compliance.

Snippets from the Sector

Recent reports include warnings from the Housing Ombudsman to social landlords over window disrepair, calls for landlord enforcement funding through fines, and concerns about illegal practices among letting agents. Political commentary from Keir Starmer emphasises the importance of secure, safe housing for all. Meanwhile, the National Residential Landlords Association highlights risks to the EPC deadline without increased landlord support, and the government has declined requests to limit HMO conversions. Additionally, some cities face challenges with hundreds of unused student rooms.

Source: Based on reporting from Landlord Law Blog

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TLA update

The Landlord Association is currently onboarding new service providers into its Trusted Partner Hub, a new initiative designed to support landlords, tenants, letting agents, and property managers with vetted, high-quality services. As one of the fastest growing landlord associations in the UK, TLA offers partners direct access to an engaged and active member base at the point of need. Service providers across legal, maintenance, insurance, finance, mortgages, tenant screening, and property services can register their interest here: https://landlordassociation.org.uk/become-a-tla-service-partner/