A recently founded group has launched to tackle what participants describe as exploitative landlords, as part of an expanding effort to address housing costs for tenants.

Oxford Renters’ Union launched its first initiative on May 1, arranging a march through the city during May Morning, having set up the not-for-profit co-operative in November.

The group’s aim is to band together to resist rent hikes and stop the climbing rental prices in the city from being dictated entirely by property owners.

By aligning their campaign launch with the Renters’ Rights Act taking effect, the union is encouraging renting households to pledge they will challenge any rent rise their landlord proposes by bringing the case before a tribunal.

The law has made this campaign possible by eliminating no-fault evictions, giving renters the ability to raise concerns and dispute their landlords without worrying about losing their home.

Maisie W, the union’s communications officer, said landlords should not receive yet another pay increase by profiting from her work, and she questioned why she should fund their extravagant vehicles and holidays when she cannot afford such luxuries herself. She stated housing should be a basic human need rather than a profit-making venture, which is why the union is calling on people to refuse their next rent increase. She encouraged resistance on principle and for oneself and neighbours in the community who are struggling to get by.

Average monthly private sector rent across England rose during the twelve months leading to March 2026, climbing 3.4 percent to £1,434, according to Office of National Statistics data.

The data also revealed Oxford had the highest average rent anywhere in the UK outside London in March, at £1,952, a 6.9 percent rise from the previous year, more than double the standard rent increase seen elsewhere during that period.

Oxford has also seen heightened and increasing homelessness figures, with numbers steadily rising over five years, with groups including Homeless Oxfordshire citing the challenging rental market conditions for tenants.

Oxford Renters’ Union’s strategy involves taking private landlords requesting rent increases to tribunal, where they will flood the hearing with pledges to show the city’s already excessive market rate continues to climb.

The group also argues that swamping the tribunal with cases will lengthen hearing processing times, keeping rents lower for longer.

This effort is part of a coordinated initiative being rolled out alongside comparable unions, including Resist Rent Rises, a network made up of groups such as London Renters Union and Greater Manchester Tenants Union.

Resist Rent Rises’ website stated that if a landlord is requesting extra rent when someone can least manage it, they are not alone, that rent costs are escalating nationwide and forcing increasing numbers out of their homes, and that renters have the right to refuse rent increases and must use those rights or lose them.