Big union calls for rent controls and even tougher eviction rules
Unison, the UK’s largest union, is calling on the Government to go further and strengthen the Renter’s Rights Bill to "fully address" challenges facing tenants.
Unison has welcomed the Renters’ Rights Bill but warns it falls short of “fully addressing the broader issues of supply, accessibility and affordability, as well as concerns around security and standards”.
Its housing policy officer Sylvia Jones says: “The Renters’ Rights Bill offers a much-needed opportunity to address the ongoing rental crisis and protect the rights of millions of private renters.
Unison will continue to push the government to go further.”
“For far too long, private renters have faced significant challenges, including rising rents, constant fears of being evicted and poor living conditions.
Shaping rental policy
“Unison is committed to advocating for the rights of its renting members and shaping rental policy to create a fairer and more equitable housing market. The Renters’ Rights Bill represents a significant step forward in achieving this goal.
But she believes the bill doesn’t go far enough, adding: “Unison is calling on the Government to strengthen the bill through a number of different measures.”
These are:
- Longer eviction protection – extending it to two years
- Stronger measures to prevent backdoor eviction techniques
- Introduction of rent controls
- Elimination of discriminatory practices which create barriers to renting for marginalised communities such as Right to Rent checks, and excessive up-front rent requirements
- Strengthening enforcement powers through a properly resourced and funded database to track rental properties and ensure that landlords are complying with the law.
Jones concludes, “Unison will continue to push the government to go further and take additional steps to create a fairer rental market and improve the quality of life for millions of renters across the country.”
Doh, I’ll impose laws to get rid of rental houses to help tenants. God help this country.
Let’s be honest, the level of just how thick some humans can be gets lower every week. The liberal / socialist mind virus is a rampant reversal of evolution.
The current Government, much like the previous one, appears disconnected from the realities faced by the public. While many have already pointed out that the majority of the Private Rented Sector consists of respectable agents, landlords, and tenants, the Government has nonetheless chosen to vilify us, portraying us as the problem.
As a small independent agency based in West Yorkshire, we’ve been witnessing a significant exodus of ‘good’ landlords and properties for the past 2-3 years. Currently, around 40% of our properties listed for sale were previously rented, and I’m certain that my colleagues across the country are seeing similar trends. If this is indeed the case, then we have a serious issue on our hands.
Matthew Pennycook and Angela Rayner—pay attention to this and listen to industry experts! How many more warnings must be issued about the looming crisis for tenants, who are left competing for an ever-shrinking pool of properties? Have you not learned from the consequences of the Tenant Fees Ban in 2019?
I’ve owned my Letting Agency in London since 1st May 1992 so I’ve been through all the changes in the last 30 years. My prediction is that any Landlord that can sell will do so, and the exodus of properties over the last two years will continue at a faster pace. Letting Agents, in particular the independents will go out of business. The simple fact is that good Landlords and Agents love to have long term, great tenants who take care of the property. This insane regulation means that great tenants will be forced out as Landlords are just not willing to take such high risks. The rents have increased when highly geared Landlords can’t cover the cost of borrowing, but all other rent increases have been really quite reasonable. I think I might have to retire before the stress gets too much!
I’m sorry John that I’m twenty minutes behind you in making a comment but thank you for yours !
I fully concur with you !
I wonder every day what people like this have against tenants as they strive to make as many homeless as they can. Bring in these proposals and there will a massive exodus from the PRS. Rent controls have never worked anywhere simply because to a landlord renting a property is a business. Do they want controls on petrol, lettuce, clothes? No so why do they not understand that to a landlord it has to pay or they will simply take their money and invest elsewhere. Tenants you need to be worried as every time government has dabbled in the rental sector it has resulted in more expensive rents.