Laura Meyer, 28, says Labour’s Renters’ Rights Act has made it impossible for her to find an affordable one-bedroom flat in south-west London.
She told the Daily Mail that her search had become increasingly difficult since the legislation came into force, as tenants compete for a limited supply of properties.
The Renters’ Rights Act took effect in England on 1 May 2026. It abolished Section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions, replaced most fixed-term assured shorthold tenancies with rolling agreements and restricted landlords to increasing rents once a year.
Ministers say the reforms are intended to give renters greater security and protection from unfair treatment. The rules also prevent landlords and letting agents from discriminating against tenants because they have children or receive benefits.
But critics of the legislation have warned that some landlords may sell their properties or become more cautious about letting them, reducing choice for prospective tenants and putting further pressure on rents.
London already faces a severe shortage of affordable private accommodation. Evidence gathered by the London Assembly found that only 5 per cent of private rental listings in the capital were affordable to households relying on Local Housing Allowance, with the proportion falling to 2 per cent for homes with two or more bedrooms.
City Hall has said the new legislation will strengthen renters’ rights, while acknowledging that Londoners continue to face rising costs, limited availability and insecurity in the private rented sector.
For tenants such as Ms Meyer, however, the immediate challenge remains finding a home within budget in a market where affordable flats are in particularly short supply.
