The rental organisation said 27% did not feel confident asking their landlord to fix something, even if it was the responsibility of the property owner.

The Generation Rent Supporter Survey added: “By ending Section 21, the Renters Rights Act (RRA) will make it harder for landlords to resist tenants’ complaints about poor quality in our homes, so we would expect more complaints from tenants, and better quality.

“The new RRA will also expand the Decent Homes Standard into the private rented sector, with on-the-spot fines for dangerous conditions. It will also expand Awaab’s Law, which introduces strict timelines for repairing dangerous hazards like damp and mould. While the exact implementation dates for these laws are yet to be confirmed, we expect them to lead to greater confidence among renters in requesting repairs and to improve overall living standards across the private rentals sector.”

Generation Rent added that 28% of private renters do not feel confident that they will be able to remain in their home for the next 12 months.

It expects this figure to fall “drastically” over the coming years, not only due to the end of fixed-term tenancies that often pressure tenants to move out when they end, but also due to the end of arbitrary Section 21 evictions in May 2026.

More than one in three private renters (34%) currently rate their landlord’s communication and responsiveness as poor.

Currently, 29% of private renters report having felt intimidated, harassed, or unfairly treated at least once by their current landlord or letting agent.

Generation Rent said that 31% of private renters did not feel confident challenging a landlord’s unfair actions, while a further 29% felt unsure.

Unfair actions often include excessive rent hikes imposed at the landlord’s discretion, regardless of the tenant’s ability to afford them, Generation Rent said.

Thousands of UK landlords are expected to leave the private rental sector in 2026, according to property purchasing firm LandlordBuyer.