How new law could change renting in Bristol

Bristol is the third most expensive place to rent in the country, according to the Office of National Statistics (ONS).

Nearly 125,000 people in the city rent privately - a quarter of the population, higher than the UK average of 19%.

Typical private tenants in the city spent 44.6% of their income on rent in 2024. But now renters have more rights, how might it affect the market in Bristol?

Here is a guide to what he Renters' Rights Act means for tenants and landlords.

Private renters can no longer be tied into contracts, so are free to leave at any time as long as they give two months' notice.If you had an end date on your contract, it no longer applies.

Rent increases can only happen once a year, with two months' notice, and they are limited to the market rate. If a renter thinks their landlord is asking for too much, they can take them to tribunal.

Tenant Japheth Monzon said the change provided him with "safety and assurance".

Research from Generation Rent previously suggested people from ethnic minority backgrounds experienced higher rent hikes.

"[So] people who look like me tend to experience rent hikes at a far higher rate than other people," Monzon said.

"Now I can know that I will be fine with my finances for a year," he added.

Renters also have the right to request a pet and, unless there is a good reason to say no, the landlord has to agree.

To raise awareness about the changes, a campaign group has been travelling across the West of England with a pop up living room. During the We Rent roadshow, workers have been explaining the new laws to people across Bristol, Bath and Weston-super-Mare.

Renters cannot be evicted without a valid reason, such as anti-social behaviour or falling behind on rent. However, landlords can ask a tenant to leave if they or their family want to move in, or they want to sell.

Under the new rules, the landlord would have to give four months' notice.

Monzon has been in his flat since September after being evicted from his previous home.

"It means that I can make this my home for the foreseeable future," he said. "I don't have to start thinking about whether I need a new place nine months into my tenancy when I'm just getting settled."

So-called no-fault evictions - one of the main causes of homelessness - have been abolished.

Molly Crossley has experienced a no-fault eviction twice, the second time was just three weeks before her wedding.

"We spent our honeymoon looking for somewhere to live," she said. "We moved into a caravan in my mum's garden, and then we were in a boat for a bit, which didn't go very well."

"I don't think you get over someone just stripping you of your safety.

"Having more time to look for somewhere if we are told to move has levelled the playing field a bit," she added.

Landlords can now request a maximum of one month's rent upfront, and bidding wars are banned.

"I can't believe that was allowed to go on for so long," said Crossley. "It just wasn't fair, not everyone's earning enough to play that game."

Discrimination against those who have children or receive benefits is illegal.

Landlords must give all tenants a copy of the government's Renters' Rights Act Information Sheet by the end of May, or face a possible fine of up to £7,000.

Sarah Todd has been renting out a property in Bradley Stoke for about 20 years and is relaxed about the changes.

"We've had shorter and longer tenancies before, I'm hoping it will even itself out," she said. "I would hope that I wouldn't be evicting anyone unless there was a valid reason to do it anyway."

Angharad Trueman, group lettings director at Andrews estate agents, said some smaller landlords had been put off by the new law.

"As an industry this is the biggest change to lettings legislation in a generation," Trueman said.

She said her company had worked hard to help landlords understand the changes, but some had decided "enough's enough" and put properties up for sale.

However, she said there had been a mix of reactions, with some "professional landlords" understanding they need to "get their head around" the new rules.

Trueman added that landlords should not panic.

"We will find a way through this and it's not as bad as you may worry about," she said.

Trueman said there was a high level of demand for rental properties in the south west, so if more landlords sell, it will drive rents up.

"We've been trying to petition government about it...

"They don't seem to understand the effect it is going to have on rents, that without that supply, rent will only continue to go up and that will only be a negative thing for tenants, and they won't have as much choice," she added.

Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government Steve Reed blamed what he called "scare stories" from other political parties.

He told the BBC they were claiming "landlords will pull out of the market, but we've not seen anything of the sort".

"Having a more secure rental sector is not only good for renters, it's actually good for the vast majority of landlords, who want to offer a decent home to their tenants," he added.