In this episode, we unpack the transformative Renters’ Rights Act 2025 with Linda Cobb OBE, a seasoned professional in the housing sector. Linda’s insights shed light on the significant changes this legislation brings to renters and landlords alike.
Black households represent 9.9% of Section 21 recipients from 2021 to 2024 — yet only 4% of private renters in England and Wales.
Ndukwe begins with that statistic because it matters. The Renters’ Rights Act does not exist in the abstract. For our communities, no-fault eviction has been a specific, documented mechanism of displacement. Understanding what has changed — and what protections now exist — is not a technicality. It is practical knowledge our communities need.
The core change
Linda explains the key aspects of the Renters’ Rights Act, emphasising that the most notable change is the abolition of Section 21, or no-fault eviction. This change aims to provide tenants with the security they need to voice concerns without the fear of eviction.
“Many tenants lived with this simple worry that if I complained about my property, they could kick me out.”
Linda Cobb OBE
That worry, she explains, is now legally removed. This act ensures greater stability for renters — and for communities who have historically been among the most exposed to Section 21 use, that stability is not a small thing.
The abolition of Section 21 is the single biggest change to renters’ rights in a generation. For Black households, who were disproportionately exposed to no-fault eviction, it removes a specific mechanism of displacement.
Financial protections
One significant financial protection now in place is the limitation on landlords asking for more than one month’s rent in advance. As Linda explains: “Landlords can now no longer ask for more than one month’s rent in advance.”
Also, any advertised rent is now the maximum allowable rent, preventing landlords from inflating prices based on tenant characteristics. This is a direct protection against discriminatory pricing — a practice that, while difficult to prove case by case, has shaped the experience of many renters from African and Caribbean backgrounds navigating the private rental market.
Addressing discrimination
Linda discusses the act’s provisions against discrimination, ensuring landlords cannot refuse tenants based on characteristics such as having children or receiving benefits.
“The good news is that the Renters’ Rights Act specifically looks at discrimination.”
Linda Cobb OBE
The increased protections for vulnerable groups are explicit in the legislation. For our communities, where intersecting factors — family size, benefit status, ethnicity — have historically compounded disadvantage in the rental market, this is a meaningful shift in the legal framework.
Myth-busting
A common misconception is that the law punishes landlords. Linda clarifies: the act focuses on improving standards across the board. Responsible landlords — the majority — can continue their practices without fear. The legislation targets the minority who have used the power imbalance of the tenancy relationship to exploit renters.
“Bad landlords should not really worry about the Renters’ Rights Act. Good landlords shouldn’t worry about the Renters’ Rights Act.”
Linda Cobb OBE
Landlord protections
For landlords concerned about difficult tenancies, Linda reassures them that there are legitimate grounds for terminating a tenancy — such as rent arrears or antisocial behaviour.
“There are ways in which a landlord can legitimately end that tenancy.”
Linda Cobb OBE
Linda’s insights offer a balanced perspective on the Renters’ Rights Act, emphasising that while it empowers tenants, it also provides a framework that supports good landlords. As we navigate the complexities of housing in the UK, understanding these rights and responsibilities is crucial for both renters and landlords.
Know your rights. The law has changed. Make sure the people around you know it too.
