Freedom of Information responses obtained by Landlord Knowledge reveal that just six of 20 councils surveyed confirmed they were prepared to enforce the Renters’ Rights Act when it took effect on 1 May 2026. The investigation – spanning major cities including London boroughs, Manchester, Birmingham and Leeds – found several councils either still developing their approach, withholding draft policy details, or failing to respond at all by the statutory deadline.
FOI responses reveal enforcement lottery
Of the 11 councils that responded, Liverpool, Sheffield, Newcastle, Bristol, Brighton and Hove, and Nottingham confirmed operational readiness for 1 May. The data reveals stark disparities in council preparedness for RRA enforcement. Liverpool has allocated 34 full-time equivalent staff to private sector housing enforcement, while Bristol has budgeted for just two FTEs. Sheffield received £165,000 in New Burdens funding but plans no additional enforcement officers. Three councils – Brent, Wandsworth and Newham – admitted their enforcement plans remain incomplete. Brent responded that it “does not hold information” because plans are “still under development”. Wandsworth claimed to be “operationally resilient” with current staff but confirmed no specific RRA preparations.
Section 22 exemptions hide unpreparedness
Southwark Council applied Freedom of Information exemptions to most questions, citing Section 22 – information intended for future publication. The council refused to disclose civil penalty levels, staffing allocations or budget figures, stating only that it is “developing a framework” for 1 May. Nottingham initially extended its response deadline while considering Section 22 exemptions, but its final reply said the council had budgeted for two additional enforcement staff, allocated £135,868 for 2026/27 enforcement, and expected to be operationally ready from 1 May. It still withheld draft policy documents under Section 22 pending publication. This follows Landlord Knowledge’s report on the rogue landlord database, which found just 51 entries despite years of operation. The pattern suggests enforcement capacity across England remains limited. Seven councils – Westminster, Hackney, Lambeth, Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, Salford and Coventry – failed to respond by the 31 March deadline, breaching their statutory obligations under the Freedom of Information Act.
Budget disclosures reveal funding gaps
Where councils disclosed enforcement budgets, the figures point to modest allocations:
- Sheffield: £164,687 New Burdens funding for 2025/26
- Brighton and Hove: £150,631 New Burdens funding for 2025/26
- Nottingham: £135,868 for 2026/27 enforcement
- Newcastle: £103,000 government grant
Several councils, including Bristol and Newham, said they are still awaiting confirmation of 2026/27 funding allocations from government.
What this means for landlords
- If you operate in areas with confirmed enforcement: Liverpool, Sheffield, Newcastle, Bristol, Brighton and Hove, and Nottingham confirmed readiness – expect active enforcement from 1 May.
- If your council did not respond: Enforcement may be delayed or inconsistent, but non-compliance remains risky as councils catch up.
- Watch for: A postcode lottery in enforcement during the early months of the Act.
- Bottom line: Assume enforcement will apply regardless of local council capacity – the legal obligations take effect from 1 May.
Editor’s view
The government has set an ambitious deadline for landlords. This investigation reveals that many councils are nowhere near ready to meet it. That creates an uncomfortable situation: landlords face new legal obligations from 1 May, but the authorities responsible for enforcing them admit they have not finalised their approach. The regulatory chaos benefits no one – least of all tenants.
Author: Editorial Team – UK landlord & buy-to-let news, policy, and finance
Published: 1 April 2026
Sources: Freedom of Information responses from 20 councils (March 2026), gov.uk
Related reading: Khan pledges £400k as London councils admit RRA plans ‘not finalised’
📘 Renters’ Rights Act: Complete Landlord Guide
Everything you need to know about the new rules – 1 May 2026
