More than half of tenants (53%) say they are forking out for higher rents since the Renters' Rights Bill was tabled in Parliament, research reveals.
Insurance comparison website, Go.Compare, says this marks a big jump from the 38% who faced increases in the earlier months of 2024, and just 33% throughout the entirety of 2023.
The Bill, which returns to Parliament next month and could be law by October with most of it being implemented by early 2026, promises to end assured shorthold tenancies.
Student landlords will already be counting down the days to the introduction of periodic tenancies or rolling contracts.
Landlords are increasing rents
The Renters' Rights Bill will also abolish Section 21 'no-fault' evictions and bring in a landlord database.
The insurer says its research appears to show some landlords are pre-emptively raising rents before the Bill is enshrined in law.
Go.Compare's survey indicates that only 19% of renters have avoided rent increases since early 2022, with an estimated 2.5 million households affected by rises since the Bill's announcement.
On average, rents have climbed by 4%, which translates to an additional £58 per month per household.
Collectively, this rise equates to an extra £147 million being paid by renters each month compared to pre-announcement levels.
Possession orders are also up
The research also shows that smaller properties have borne the brunt of these increases, with one-bedroom homes facing a 4.8% rise, adding £52 monthly.
Flats and maisonettes have seen steeper climbs, with a 4.7% increase amounting to roughly £62 more per month.
In contrast, larger homes, such as those with four or more bedrooms, experienced a 3.7% rise, while detached properties saw the smallest uptick at 3.6%, or £54 extra monthly.
The data also highlights a slight increase in accelerated possession orders, up by 1% since September 2024 compared to the previous year, alongside a 10% rise in bailiff-led repossessions.
The firm's home insurance expert, Nathan Blackler, said: "These latest figures indicate that the Renters' Rights Bill could have had an unwanted side effect on tenants, more of whom seem to be dealing with rent rises since the announcement.
"Renters should be aware that costs could increase ahead of the Bill taking effect."
Not enough PRS homes
The insurers' survey coincides with a report from the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) which reveals the rate of rent increases has dropped significantly.
It says that PRS rent growth fell from 8.6% in the year to July 2024 to 5.9% in the year to July 2025, according to the Office for National Statistics.
Despite this easing, the NRLA warns that the market remains fragile, with tenant demand, reportedly up for 71% of NRLA members, still exceeding the supply of rental properties.
The organisation's chief executive, Ben Beadle, said: "Whilst a slowdown in rent increases will be of some relief to tenants, the rental market remains in a fragile state.
"Tenants across the country continue to face the reality of there not being enough homes to meet demand."
He added that landlord confidence is at a historic low, with only 2% expressing optimism about the UK economy ahead of the Autumn Budget.
Landlord costs are increasing
Simon Thompson, the managing director of Accommodation for Students, said: "Student landlords will already be aware that the Renters' Rights Bill will have a huge impact on the sector.
"But it wouldn't be true to say this is the reason why rents are going up.
"While there are some interesting stats, there's no mention of landlord costs increasing and, taking the rising cost of living, the increases quoted here are not extortionate."
He added: "As landlords leave the PRS and competition for rented homes increases, rents will, inevitably, continue to rise."
