• New Housing Hand report – Understanding Renters in 2025 – provides crucial insights into state of the private rented sector
• Findings will empower landlords to support tenants by addressing rental financial literacy knowledge gaps
• Reports reveals 1 in 3 renters don't what would happen if they paid their rent late
• Data also shows 69% of renters have never heard of the Renters' Rights Bill

UK rental services provider Housing Hand has launched a new report that reveals a wealth of insights into the current state of the private rented sector. Understanding Renters in 2025 combines the findings from a survey of over 1,700 UK-based renters with in-depth tenant focus groups. It provides a unique and timely snapshot of renters' financial knowledge – and crucial gaps that can be filled to promote smoother tenant relationships.

“Our research finds that, while the majority of private renters consider themselves financially literate when it comes to renting, there are significant gaps in their knowledge that pose a risk to harmonious tenant-landlord relationships. With the Renters' Rights Bill set to deliver the biggest change to renting in a generation, the potential for knowledge gaps to cause issues grows exponentially. As such, we are calling on landlords and other accommodation providers to use our new research to help underpin more informed, smoother tenant relationships.”

Graham Hayward, Managing Director, Housing Hand

The brand-new report reveals that renters typically feel confident in their knowledge when entering the rental process, with 73% considering themselves financially literate when it comes to renting. However, the detailed findings show some significant gaps in that knowledge.

46% of renters, for example, don't know how deposit protection schemes work, while 63% don't know how long it takes to get their deposit back from these schemes. In addition, 65% of renters don't know that depositless renting schemes exist. And, while landlords and rental accommodation providers across England are preparing for the proposed Renters' Rights Bill to become law, 69% of their tenants have never heard of it.

Worryingly for landlords, 33% of renters report not knowing what would happen if they paid their rent late, while 58% wouldn't know what to do if they found themselves unable to pay. For those living in shared households or sharing a tenancy agreement, 67% don't know what would happen if one member of the household doesn't pay their rent.

“Knowledge gaps such as these create a breeding ground for misunderstandings and potential issues. Open, clear dialogue and the provision of rental financial information in a digestible format would create positive communication channels between landlords and tenants and help to fill some of these gaps in understanding.”

James Maguire, Sales and Business Development Director, Housing Hand

When it comes to filling this knowledge gap, 82% of those surveyed would have liked more financial education in school. Clearly, there is a missed opportunity in how unprepared young people are for the realities of managing their homes and finances when they leave formal education. Of those surveyed – who included both working professionals and students – 31% report that they get information on managing their housing-related finances from family members, while 15% get information from friends. 38% turn to the internet to try and find the information they need, while 9% rely on social media. Just 6% of renters got information on managing their household finances from their university and just 2% from their school.

"The Renters' Rights Bill is moving through Parliament towards becoming law but, as our report reveals, renters haven't had sufficient support in understanding all aspects of their current financial commitments, let alone how the Bill may impact them. There is a significant opportunity here for landlords and others in the sector to work with renters for the benefit of all those involved in the rental process.”

Graham Hayward, Managing Director, Housing Hand

 For more information, please contact Housing Hand on +44 (0) 207 205 2625 or visit www.housinghand.co.uk.

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Notes to Editors

About Housing Hand:

Housing Hand operates a range of support services to renters, including its role as the UK's premier rent guarantor, providing thousands of tenancies with guaranteed rent every year. With over 3,000 partners and having assisted over 95,000 students and professionals, Housing Hand has covered nearly £800,000,000 in rent.

Download the full Understanding Renters in 2025 report at www.housinghand.co.uk/understanding-renters-in-2025

Full media pack including graphics can be found here.

www.housinghand.co.uk