The Rent Act 1977: The Ultimate Tenant Security
The Rent Act 1977 gave private tenants extreme security of tenure and 'fair rents', heavily restricting the rights and profits of landlords.
Before the modern Assured Shorthold Tenancy (AST) was introduced in the late 1980s, private renting was governed by the Rent Act 1977. This legislation was incredibly pro-tenant.
Under a 'Regulated Tenancy', a landlord essentially could not evict a tenant unless they had breached the contract. Furthermore, tenants had the right to apply for a 'fair rent', meaning a government rent officer would legally cap the rent the landlord could charge, often far below market rates. These tenancies could even be passed down to family members upon the tenant's death. This heavy regulation caused a massive decline in the private rental sector as landlords fled the market, until the Housing Act 1988 deregulated the system.