Lessons for Nigerian landlords as UK peer supports Renters’ Rights Act

There is a huge lesson for Nigerian landlords in the action of their counterpart in the UK, who is supporting the country’s new Renters Rights Act that came into force last Friday, May 1, 2026.

This act is to be implemented in three phases, with key changes for landlords and tenants starting on the date stated above.

Unlike an average Nigerian landlord, who does not see anything good to support in previous efforts on legislation to protect tenants from their exploitation, Rick Gannon, the UK landlord with a portfolio of 70 properties worth £10 million, is supporting the Renters’ Act, saying it will remove underperforming operators from the market.

PropertyWire, an online property research platform, quotes Gannon as saying in BBC News that the legislation represents “the biggest change we’ve seen in this industry for many, many years” and that he believes “most of it is for the better.”

The online platform points out, however, that Gannon’s position contrasts sharply with the majority of landlords, who have opposed key measures in the Act, particularly the abolition of Section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions and fixed-term tenancies.

Other landlords quoted in the BBC report highlighted operational challenges, including one case where a tenant owes £15,000 in unpaid rent and refuses to vacate, and another where tenants caused £8,000 in property damage.

These reflect the position of Nigerian landlords too, who blame their arbitrary rent increases and exploitation of renters on adverse macro-economic conditions, long and expensive building approvals, and high building materials prices, all leading to high product cost.

The new Renters’ Act is, however, not foolproof, nor is it perfect legislation. PropertyWire cites Research by LegalForLandlords, which predicts approximately 25 percent of landlords may exit the private rental sector due to the new legislation. The study found that 43 percent of landlords identified the removal of Section 21 as their primary concern.

The research also revealed that 60 percent of landlords intending to remain in the sector plan to implement stricter tenant vetting procedures. These measures are expected to disproportionately affect lower-income applicants and those with limited rental histories, similar to recent concerns about zero-hours workers facing rental exclusion.

“More than half of continuing landlords indicated they will require rent guarantors going forward, with income and affordability checks facing increased scrutiny. The tightening of criteria may reduce access to rental properties for groups already considered higher risk,” the study noted.

It notes further that the contrasting views reflect broader tensions in the rental market as the sector adjusts to regulatory changes, adding that, while some landlords view the reforms as necessary improvements to tenant protections, others cite concerns about property management challenges and reduced flexibility in addressing problematic tenancies, an issue highlighted in cases of landlord-tenant disputes requiring legal intervention.

The Renters’ Rights Act marks the biggest shake-up of the private rented sector in decades. On October 27, 2025, the Act received Royal Assent. It delivers on the government’s manifesto commitment “to transform the experience of private renting” and represents for both landlords and renters one of the most significant reforms to the private rented sector for a generation.

Its stated purpose is to rebalance landlord-tenant relations by giving renters greater security; at its heart is the abolishment of the so-called ‘no-fault’ evictions under section 21 of the Housing Act 1988 in the private rented sector.