Claim 612fe05bChecked 21 Jul 2026
Strongly SupportedOn the evidence scale
“The Labour Government is stopping unfair rent increases.”
Reasoning & Evidence21 Jul 2026
The claim that "The Labour Government is stopping unfair rent increases" is strongly supported by the Renters' Rights Act 2025, which received Royal Assent on 27 October 2025 and whose key provisions came into force on 1 May 2026. The Act introduces multiple mechanisms directly targeting unfair rent increases: (1) rent increases limited to once per year via statutory section 13 notice with two months' notice; (2) tenants' right to challenge above-market increases at the First-tier Tribunal without the previous risk of the tribunal raising rent higher than the landlord proposed; (3) rent review clauses rendered unenforceable; (4) a ban on rental bidding above advertised asking rent; (5) no backdating of challenged increases; and (6) ability to challenge initial rent within the first six months. The government's own press releases describe these measures as giving tenants power to "challenge unfair rent increases" — the same language as the claim.
Importantly, the claim is carefully worded: it says "unfair rent increases," not "all rent increases." The Act does not introduce rent controls or cap the amount landlords can raise rents to market rate, as the government explicitly states. However, the legislation specifically targets increases above market rate, used as backdoor eviction mechanisms, or achieved through bidding wars — precisely what "unfair rent increases" denotes. The causal link between the Labour Government's policy action and the effect of stopping unfair rent increases is direct, well-evidenced, and confirmed by multiple official sources.
Sources:
- GOV.UK, "Guide to the Renters' Rights Act" — https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guide-to-the-renters-rights-act/guide-to-the-renters-rights-act
- GOV.UK, "Historic protections for renters in action across England" (1 May 2026) — https://www.gov.uk/government/news/historic-protections-for-renters-in-action-across-england
- GOV.UK, "Historic Renters' Rights Act becomes law" (27 October 2025) — https://www.gov.uk/government/news/historic-renters-rights-act-becomes-law
- GOV.UK, "The Renters' Rights Act Information Sheet 2026" — https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/69bc04b8f7b1c24d8e23ce60/The%5FRenters%5F%5FRights%5FAct%5FInformation%5FSheet%5F2026.pdf
- House of Commons Library, "Renters' reform in England: What's happening and when?" (CBP-10669) — https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-10669/
- legislation.gov.uk, "Renters' Rights Act 2025" (explanatory notes) — https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2025/26/pdfs/ukpgaen_20250026_en.pdf
- The Independent Landlord, "The changes to the rules about rent in the Renters' Rights Act" — https://theindependentlandlord.com/renters-rights-rent/
- The Lead, "The Lead Untangles: Rent controls" — https://national.thelead.uk/p/the-lead-untangles-rent-controls-renters-rights-act-andy-burnham-labour-government-housing
From speech
They introduced a system that is broken, they put the bill through the roof, and now they want to give us advice on welfare—no thanks! The question should always be not what benefits people are entitled to, but what help we can give people to change their lives. That is what the Work and Pensions Secretary was arguing, and he is right about that. It is a Labour Government that are helping people into work. Leader of the Opposition asks what we have done: more rights for renters, stopping unfair rent hikes, and giving 11 million people greater security and a place to call home; and more rights for workers, including bereavement leave on day one—ask anyone who has lost someone, and they will say just how important it is to have bereavement leave. We have lifted half a million children out of poverty. We often say in this House that every child should go as far as their talent or ability will take them. That does not happen if they are growing up in poverty. The Conservatives have fought us at every turn. I am proud of what we are delivering. There is much more to do.
Sources opened