The private rented sector saw a period of ‘calm before the storm’ last month ahead of the Renters’ Rights Act going live, it has been claimed.

Most of the legislation’s major changes to the way homes are rented in England are to go live on 1st May, and the latest survey of the rental market by Goodlord shows rent rises cooled off significantly during March.

This is a sure sign that the changes have persuaded many landlords and tenants to delay beginning contracts ahead of new rights for renters kicking in, the company says.

Rents increased by just 0.8% nationally last month compared with February, while annual per-property rents are currently 2.4% higher – both figures being lower than the most recent inflation figures that showed an annual rate of 3%.

Significantly cooled

“These latest figures will be welcomed by tenants, who continue to see wage growth outstrip rental inflation and rents rising less quickly than other consumer prices,” says Goodlord boss William Reeve.

“While minimal month-on-month changes are to be expected at this time of year, the year-on-year figures give a clear picture of a market that has significantly cooled in recent months.

“However, there’s a possibility that what we’re witnessing is the calm before the storm.

“With the implementation of the Renters’ Rights Act now only a month away, we could simply be in a holding pattern before a torrent of new market forces are unlocked.

“The new legislation could see a spike in gazundering, tenants giving notice, and landlords increasing rents. In a few months, this market picture could look very different indeed.”

Sharp falls

Richard Jenkins of lettings platform Hello Neighbour paints a similar picture based on his firm’s data, saying: “The London lettings market fell sharply in March, with average rents down 7.6% year on year. This marks a clear shift from February’s 3.7% increase.

“Demand continues to fall, with 30 enquiries per property recorded in March 2026. This is the second lowest monthly level seen in the past three years, and down from 32 in February and 36 in January. This remains comfortably above the Rightmove average of 12.”

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