Senior North East councillor demands rent caps in addition to RRB
Gateshead councillor Catherine Donovan says only rent controls will stop rogue landlords hiking prices after tenants complain.
A senior figure at Gateshead Council is demanding rent caps to tackle rogue landlords who she says punish tenants with rent hikes when they complain about poor conditions.
Councillor Catherine Donovan (pictured), Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, wants Government ministers to be lobbied to introduce rent controls as child poverty figures show 30% of youngsters across the North East live in relative poverty after housing costs.
According to Chronicle Live, she told a recent council meeting that a tenant in her own ward had been forced to take a landlord to tribunal after the rent was allegedly raised following complaints about damp and rats.
She said: “People in a Tyneside flat in Bensham are paying about £800 a month and possibly more if you complain.”
The Government is bringing in some very welcome legislation about no-fault evictions, but there are more ways to skin a cat.”
While welcoming the Government’s ban on no-fault evictions in the Renters’ Rights Bill, Donovan warned that unscrupulous landlords will simply find other ways to force out tenants unless rent controls are introduced.
“The Government is bringing in some very welcome legislation about no-fault evictions, but there are more ways to skin a cat. So you can’t get someone out with no fault evictions, so you just put the rent up.
Big challenges
Director, North East Child Poverty Commission
“The effect of the insecurity of tenure, in my opinion, is one of the biggest challenges we face. I think we should be lobbying for rent caps because I think that’s the only way to make a difference with that.”
Amanda Bailey, strategic lead at the North East Child Poverty Commission, responded to her comments by saying that the North East Mayor is lobbying for more powers and funding to take on rogue landlords, but currently lacks the authority to do so.
The Council has also recently expanded its own powers to tackle rogue landlords, widening its landlord licensing scheme to include many areas of Gateshead, making properties subject to stricter safety conditions and regular inspections.
Rent controls do not work. Ever. Anywhere.
The market will always dictate rental values. A landlord can market his property for whatever he wants but if it is above market value it will remain empty.
A child of 12 would understand the basic those rules of economics.
Why cant our politicians?
There are two sides to every story. Yesterday I met with a couple who moved into their house in 1977 with a protected rent. They have never had a rent rise and the current rent is £600 below market rent and the landlord is putting the rent up £100 pcm first rise in 38 years. Not all landlords are as bad as some in Westminster make out. I also carried out a move out inspection on a top end property left by two high end earners and it was a filthy disgrace perhaps we need a register of tenants like this so landlords are not left with huge bills and the last rent unpaid.