There has been a sharp rise in landlord and tenant searches in the run-up to the Renters’ Rights Act coming into force on 1 May, Coventry for intermediaries reveals.

The analysis of Google trends by Coventry for intermediaries found that searches for ‘renters rights act 2026’ increased by 600% between 1 January and 1 May.

It reached a peak search interest score of 100, which is the highest level of relative popularity for the term during the period.

Coventry says the search term’s popularity likely indicates that both landlords and tenants were lacking understanding of the new changes ahead of the act’s enforcement and how they would be affected.

The sharpest rise of any term studied was for ‘renters rights information sheet’, up 2250% from the preceding period, indicating landlord concern about meeting the act’s requirements by the 31 May.

The information sheet is a legal requirement, and landlords who fail to issue it to tenants risk a fine of up to £7,000.

Search interest in the term had also not yet peaked when data collection ended on 1 May, unlike every other term studied.

It suggests landlords were still seeking information as the deadline approached, and that guidance on the requirement may not have reached them clearly, or in good time.

Meanwhile, searches for ‘what is a tenancy agreement’ increased by 190%, while ‘assured tenancy’ rose by 110%.

Coventry says this suggests that the act could have driven new people across audiences into housing conversations.

Search interest in ‘limited company’ also rose by 70%, showing some landlords are considering taking a longer-term strategic response to regulation, including how they manage and professionalise their portfolios.

Coventry for intermediaries head of intermediary relationships Jonathan Stinton says: “The Renters’ Rights Act was clearly front and centre for landlords and tenants earlier this year. The scale of search activity shows just how many people were turning to Google for answers on what the changes mean in practice.”

“But it’s concerning that one of the sharpest rises is for a legal requirement carrying a fine of up to £7,000 – that suggests the guidance landlords needed wasn’t reaching them clearly enough, or in time.”

“A strong private rental sector has to work for both sides. Tenants need confidence in their rights, and landlords need confidence to stay in the market and plan for the long term. The rise in ‘limited company’ searches suggests many are already weighing up how to restructure for it and make sure their property investments are economically viable.”