London Renters Union accuses letting agents of ‘pushing up rents’
Union blames "shameful" agents for using the cost-of-living crisis to heap more misery on the private rented sector.
The London Renters Union has accused letting agents of using the cost-of-living crisis as an excuse to push up rents for greedy landlords and pile more misery on cash strapped tenants.
A statement from Alva, Kenny, Clare and Michael at the London Renters Union says: “LRU members have been reporting rent rises of 30% or 40%. One member was even asked to pay 70% more rent. Some housing associations are talking about putting up service charges.”
And they add: “This is a shameful attempt by people who already make huge profits from the housing crisis to squeeze renters and boost profits.”
Many of us now face eviction or being left without enough for basic essentials this winter.”
The London Renters Union is concerned that rising rents will mean more people will not be able to afford to live in their homes and face eviction – especially as Winter draws closer and heating bills start to rise.
They add: “Many of us now face eviction or being left without enough for basic essentials this winter.”
The accusations come a week after the Scottish government announced a rent freeze and Conservative Dover & Deal MP Natasha Elphike said extraordinary economic circumstances would justify the same in England.
SCOTLAND
Landlords in Scotland are banned from putting up the rents until at least March 2023 and follows pressure from Living Rent, the Scottish tenants union.
London Renters Union says: “They’ve been building power street by street, block by block for years. Let’s do the same here. Together renters can support each other to stay in our homes and demand a rent freeze so that landlords are banned from putting up the rent.”
Why do all of these organisations brand all landlords and agents as greedy and making huge profits? In reality many landlords do not make huge profits and nor do letting agents.
As an example, 3 years ago after a tenant trashed 1 of my small flats I was faced with a bill of over £10,000 to rectify. The insurance covered about 1/2 of that amount, for example they would cover the kitchen base units but not the wall units and as the design was no longer available I chose to buy new to match. Having spent £5,500 of my own money the property was re-let @ £600 pcm. after agent fees and mortgage payments this left me c£280 a month which means for 19 months I made no money at all!