David Lammy Overrules Officials to Set Rent Tribunal Fee at £47
Renters will face a significantly lower cost than anticipated to challenge unfair rent increases, after Justice Secretary David Lammy personally intervened to cap the fee for accessing rent tribunals at just £47. This decision comes as part of Labour's landmark Renters Rights Act, which is scheduled to come into force on May 1, 2026.
Ministers Introduce Fee Amid Fears of Landlord Exploitation
Ministers had initially planned to introduce a fee for rent tribunals, sparking concerns that landlords might use it as a pretext to force tenants out or issue threats. However, Lammy has now overruled officials who recommended charging over a hundred pounds, ensuring the fee remains minimal with no additional hearing costs.
A Labour source revealed: "That was the result of David Lammy intervening to stop officials' plans for fees for rental tribunals running into the hundreds of pounds ahead of the landmark Renters Rights Act coming into force on 1 May. This government promised that they would protect renters from no-fault evictions and empower them to challenge unfair rent increases, and that's exactly what David Lammy is doing."
The source added that higher fees would have undermined security for millions of renters by creating a loophole in the Renters' Rights Act, potentially allowing section 21 evictions to occur indirectly.
Campaigners Warn of Economic Evictions
Previously, campaigners expressed alarm that with the abolition of section 21 no-fault evictions on May 1, any barriers to challenging rent increases could enable landlords to use rent hikes as a "backdoor" method to force tenants out, leading to economic evictions. Rents in England have surged by over 32% in the past five years, now averaging £1,423 per month, with 4.4 million private renters living in poverty.
The Renter's Reform Coalition (RCC), an alliance of 18 leading housing and renters' organisations, had written to Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook to voice concerns over the introduction of tribunal fees.
Clara Collingwood, interim director of the RCC, stated: "When you have to pay to exercise a right, it becomes a privilege. Appealing a rent increase is the only protection private renters have from being priced out of their homes via unfair, above-market rent increases. Though it is a relief the fee has been reduced from hundreds of pounds, any fee is a barrier to accessing justice. The idea that £47 is affordable to people challenging an unfair rent rise they already can’t afford during a cost of living crisis will come as a shock to a lot of renters, and the Government's assistance with paying tribunal fees won't cover most tenants struggling to afford their rent."
Impact on Renters and Housing Market
This move is seen as a critical step in Labour's efforts to bolster renter protections, particularly in a housing market where affordability remains a pressing issue. By keeping the tribunal fee low, the government aims to ensure that renters can effectively challenge excessive rent increases without facing prohibitive costs, thereby reducing the risk of economic displacement and enhancing housing stability.
