Property tribunal cases have increased by 56% in the second quarter of 2026 following the introduction of the Renters’ Rights Act in May, according to Ministry of Justice statistics.
The data, covering the period between April and June 2026, shows 15,929 property-related cases were heard annually by the end of June, representing a 24% increase compared to the previous year.
Impact of rental reforms
The Renters’ Rights Act introduced provisions allowing tenants to challenge landlords over rent increases and other disputes through the First Tier Property Tribunal. The tribunal handles rent cases, leasehold enfranchisement claims, leasehold disputes, Housing Act 2004 cases and park homes matters.
Lucian Cook, head of residential research at Savills, said: “As the Renters Rights Act beds in, we’d expect to see the number of cases rise exponentially, particularly in respect of rent reviews. Both buy-to-let landlords and the Government will have a keen eye on the capacity to process these cases.”
Cook added that landlords would be concerned about potential delays in implementing market rent reviews, whilst the Government would monitor administrative costs and potential regulatory adjustments.
Market implications
The increase in tribunal cases reflects broader pressures in the UK housing market as rent expectations surge. Data from LonRes in recent weeks indicated that tribunal decisions on rental reviews are increasingly ruling in favour of tenants.
The tribunal’s rising caseload has prompted Government intervention, with HMRC set to assume responsibility for rent reviews to reduce pressure on the Property Tribunal system. However, no specific timeline for this transition has been announced.
The statistics provide an early indication of how the rental sector is adjusting to the new regulatory framework, with implications for both landlords and tenants as dispute resolution mechanisms face increased demand. The figures suggest the sector may experience continued friction as market participants adapt to the reformed legislative environment.
