Campaign group Generation Rent has described the current state of the private rental sector as “dire” for tenants, although it acknowledges that some pressures appear to be easing. The comments follow the publication of findings from its latest renter survey, which gathered responses from 711 participants across the UK.
According to Generation Rent, the overall situation for private renters remains challenging, but there are early signs of improvement in certain areas. The group says fewer tenants are now being forced to move, and while rent increases remain widespread, the size of those increases appears to be slowing.
One notable trend highlighted in the survey is a reduction in the number of renters having to leave their homes compared to 2024. This decline is largely linked to a fall in Section 21 eviction notices. Generation Rent suggests this may be due to the fading impact of a spike in evictions following changes to capital gains tax for landlords in 2024, which had previously encouraged some landlords to sell up.
The organisation also points out that landlords may now be less inclined to evict tenants simply to raise rents, as rental prices on new tenancies have not been rising as sharply this year. Looking ahead, Generation Rent expects eviction figures to fall further after May 2026, when Section 21 is due to be abolished and Section 8 becomes the primary route for landlords seeking possession.
Despite fewer renters being asked to move out, rent increases remain a major concern. Nearly two-thirds of renters surveyed—63%—reported being asked to pay more rent over the past year. While this proportion has not increased, it remains worryingly high.
There are, however, signs that the scale of rent rises is beginning to ease. Around 15% of respondents said their rent had increased by at least £100 per month in the year to September 2025, down from 22% in October 2024. Even so, this still means more than one in ten renters are facing substantial additional monthly costs.
Very few tenants have challenged rent increases through a tribunal, with only 0.5% taking this route. Generation Rent notes that this is unsurprising, as awareness of the tribunal system remains low and current protections are limited—particularly when rents on new tenancies continue to rise. The continued availability of Section 21 has also discouraged renters from disputing increases.
The group expects this to change in the coming year. From 1 May, landlords will be required to issue a Section 13 notice when raising rent within an existing tenancy, which may give tenants stronger grounds to challenge increases and encourage greater use of the tribunal system.
When asked why rents had gone up, most landlords cited higher market rents as the primary reason. A smaller proportion—around 4%—said increases were driven by advice from letting agents, who may benefit from higher commissions when rents rise.
One of the most striking findings from the survey is the rise in rental bidding wars. This practice was virtually unheard of during the pandemic, when demand for rental homes fell sharply. However, around one in six renters reported being asked to bid or offer the maximum rent they could afford over the past year.
Generation Rent welcomed the fact that upcoming legislation will ban rental bidding altogether, describing it as a major win for tenants and a step towards fairer access to housing.
Housing insecurity remains a significant issue for many renters. Currently, 28% of private tenants say they do not feel confident they will be able to stay in their home for the next 12 months. The organisation expects this figure to fall over time, particularly with the planned end of fixed-term tenancies and the removal of no-fault evictions.
The survey also highlights ongoing concerns around property conditions and tenant confidence. Around 27% of renters said they did not feel comfortable asking their landlord to carry out repairs that are the landlord’s responsibility. Meanwhile, 24% reported living in a home they consider unsafe or in poor condition.
Generation Rent believes that abolishing Section 21 will make it harder for landlords to ignore complaints, leading to more tenants raising issues and, ultimately, improvements in housing quality.
Communication between landlords and tenants also appears to be a weak point. More than one in three renters—34%—rated their landlord’s communication and responsiveness as poor, suggesting ongoing frustration in day-to-day management of rented homes.
In addition, nearly 29% of renters said they had felt intimidated, harassed, or unfairly treated by their current landlord or letting agent at least once. The introduction of a mandatory Private Rented Sector Ombudsman is expected to provide tenants with free, impartial advice and a binding route to resolve disputes without resorting to court action.
While Generation Rent maintains that the private rental sector remains in a difficult state, the organisation says the survey points to gradual improvements in certain areas. With upcoming legislative changes and stronger tenant protections on the horizon, it believes conditions for renters could improve significantly over the coming years.
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