A petition by Generation Rent has won only 17,000 signatures – under a third of the total won just a year ago.

Back in July 2025 the activist group delivered a petition signed by nearly 57,000 people to 10 Downing Street. calling for a cap on rents.

But last week the group’s call for a quicker tenancy deposit return system and penalties for landlords making false claims was handed in to government with the support of just 17,000.

The petition calls for an end to insurance-backed schemes, which currently allow landlords to keep the interest on the cash they hold.

Landlords can currently choose to protect deposits in a custodial scheme, which returns undisputed money to tenants while making a decision, making it easier for renters to challenge unfair deductions. 

But under insurance-backed schemes, landlords can put pressure on renters to settle for less than they’re entitled to.

Even though renters who challenge deductions get 79% of their deposit back, the activist group claims only one in five who face unfair deductions actually raise a dispute.

The government is now redesigning the deposit protection system.

Holly Williamson – who worked for Labour MP John Healey before becoming chief executive of Generation Rent over the summer – says: “Requiring landlords to protect money in the scheme rather than hold it themselves, will mean that they have to make any claim after the tenancy ends and return unclaimed cash to the tenant as soon as possible. 

“That will make moving home a lot less stressful.

“But the government should go further and impose fines on landlords who repeatedly get exaggerated claims rejected by the deposit schemes would shut down that behaviour and get money back into renters’ pockets quicker.”