The government has vowed that HM Courts and Tribunals Service and the First Tier Tribunal will monitor data on disputes, possession activity and rent challenges.

It follows criticism that it has no information about the average time it takes for the tribunal to consider, process and rule rent increase appeals and the likely pressure on the system following introduction of the Renters’ Rights Act.

It explains: “These data sources will enable the department to monitor how disputes, possession activity and rent challenges are changing over time, identify pressures emerging in the tribunal system, and assess whether reforms are improving access to justice and fairer outcomes in the private rented sector.”

The move is part of a new long-term data collection strategy to evaluate reforms in the PRS. This will require councils to submit enforcement data, along with plans to start collecting data from the PRS Database during phase two of implementation of the Renters’ Rights Act, which is set to begin late this year.

Voluntary

Since mid-2025, the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government has collected enforcement data from local authorities on a voluntary basis such as demand for services, numbers of inspections undertaken, hazards identified, and formal enforcement measures implemented. It adds: “We are in the process of transitioning the voluntary data collection to a mandatory one. This will support efforts to build a clearer national picture of enforcement activity and inform policy refinement.”

It believes the PRS Database has the potential to provide a useful additional source of information, including the size and distribution of properties, patterns of ownership, selected property characteristics, and some aspects of compliance and enforcement. It adds: “In addition, linking property data from the PRS database using UPRNs could allow cross-referencing to other sources of property information such as the English Housing Survey to provide a more holistic picture of a property.”

Ombudsman

The new Ombudsman will publish annual reports to highlight emerging trends and issues across the sector to help embed lessons learned from real complaints, promote consistent standards, and set clear expectations for good practice.

“Our vision is to establish an integrated PRS data system that enables robust, timely and granular insight,” the government explains. “It will guide decision making through clear, accessible and transparent evidence, ensuring that the PRS reforms deliver improved conditions, greater security and fairer outcomes for renters, while supporting responsible landlords and strengthening the overall functioning of the sector.”

Findings of an evaluation of the Act will be published in May 2028 and May 2031.

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