The introduction of the Renters' Rights Act in May 2026 changed the typical seasonal pattern of London's lettings market, with peak summer activity arriving earlier than in previous years. Foxtons' latest Lettings Market Index indicates that landlords secured tenancies earlier in the summer season following the rental reforms.
Market new listings in 2026 were 2.9% higher than in 2025, with each month recording more listings than the corresponding month in the previous year. Supply growth continued through the period leading up to and immediately after the Act's implementation, suggesting landlord retention in the London market.
Tenant registrations year-to-date fell by 12.3% compared to 2025, although West London saw a 5.2% increase. Competition for available properties increased by 22.4% in August, reaching 24 renters per new instruction, the highest level recorded in 2026. The year's average stood at 17.9 renters per listing.
Gareth Atkins, Managing Director of Lettings at Foxtons, noted that the Renters' Rights Act appears to have brought some moves forward, particularly among students, distributing activity more evenly across the summer and easing the traditional August peak. He added that 2026 likely represents "a year of adjustment rather than a new normal."