Putting Rights to Work

Abbie and Jess are Housing Advice Support Workers in the Early Doors service, a project from Caring in Bristol and Housing Matters. Their work involves supporting people facing housing insecurity, with the ultimate aim of preventing a situation where they face homelessness.

No fault, no reason

Jess talks about the weekly housing advice drop ins that are a collaboration between Caring in Bristol, Housing Matters, and Shelter Bristol: “We see lots of people who would be considered homeless; for example, sofa surfing or staying with family in overcrowded accommodation. And one of the quickest options for anyone to move, in theory, is private renting. But there's a lot of fear around private renting and then being kicked out without any notice or without reason. We’ve seen see lots of people coming who have received a Section 21 (‘no fault’ eviction). They've come to us and we say, here are your choices, here are your options… which include private renting. But people are terrified to do it again, to go through that really difficult process of being kicked out through no fault of their own and having to uproot everything.”

Fear

Renting should feel like an accessible option for anyone who needs to rent, or feels that it’s the right choice for them. That people have been frightened while addressing one of our most fundamental needs - to have a home - can’t be acceptable. The Renters’ Right Act has been designed to address this by abolishing Section 21 evictions, among other things.

"Stuckness"

Abbie has frequently noticed the impact that an outdated rental system has caused “I think for my clients, it's a feeling of ‘stuckness,’” she says. “They feel completely trapped in the situation and feel like they're doing everything they can. But the system is just not set up for people like them. That's how some people have described it to me, saying, ‘Okay, well, what would you expect me to do? This is my situation. I can't increase my income. What on earth am I supposed to do?’ There's a list as long as your arm for social housing, and then they're not being allowed to private rent because landlords are turning them away. It really feels choiceless.”

Expert support

With organisations from across the region to raise awareness, there’s been a concerted effort to make sure that renters (and landlords) are aware of the new legislation. Joining the Early Doors’ Housing Support Handbook is the new Renters’ Rights Guidebook. It’s based on the idea that we can’t use our rights effectively if we don’t know what they are, or find them difficult to understand. It’s designed to connect people to expert support. Jess, who understands the urgent need for this, says, “I think that's what it always comes back to: making sure people understand and get that advice and information, and know where to get it before they do anything else. Like Abbi said, there are things that people can now utilise to try and ensure that their landlord is acting accordingly, and their home is safe. Currently, people don't always feel safe reporting repairs or speaking to their landlord about issues they're having of retaliatory evictions, which are incredibly hard to prove. So, hopefully it'll mean that people can get the service that they deserve in their home and feel safe to act on those rights that they have. [The advice is] what those independent bodies give.”

Removing blocks

An example of the new rights is the cap of one month’s rent that can be asked for in advance. Jess agrees, “I think it will be a positive thing for people, having that cap on how many months’ rent in advance they can ask for. It’s another reason why it’s so inaccessible for people that we see, and for lots of people who we don't see. If you don't have all that advance rent that they're asking for, and you don't have a guarantor, which most people don't, it's another blocker.”

We’re looking forwards to seeing how the Renters’ Rights Act starts to remove some of the difficult blockers in the private rental system. The guidebook, the accompanying website, and the support they signpost people to, will help renters understand and utilise their new rights. A fairer system is a long-overdue shot in the arm to move us towards thousands of people having a less stressful experience of renting, and to them feeling safe and secure in their current home or their next one.

For more information about the Renters' Rights Act, visit our region's dedicated website or download the free guide. For further housing support, download the Early Doors handbook.

Renters' Rights Act Handbook

Renters have new legal rights from May 1st 2026. For help understanding the new rights, visit We-rent.org.uk to find information and organisations near to you that can support you.

You can also download the free guide to the Renters' Rights Act here:

RENTERS' RIGHTS HANDBOOK

Housing Support Handbook

A tool for anyone facing money worries or housing problems in Bristol, with information on housing, finances, employment, immigration, food and wellbeing. 2025 edition. Created by our Early Doors service.

DOWNLOAD HOUSING SUPPORT HANDBOOK 2025