Tenants are calling on councillors to extend selective landlord licensing schemes ahead of local elections next month.

The Renters’ Reform Coalition is campaigning for more support for tenants and reaching out to councillors to support more licensing schemes across the country.

The campaigning comes just a month before key elements of the Renters’ Rights Act will apply for the first time, including an end to ‘no-fault’ Section 21 evictions.

We’ll be asking anyone standing to be a councillor to pledge their support for renters by extending selective landlord licensing schemes.”

Renters’ Rights Act

In a statement, the coalition said: “Renters only have one more month to wait until we get our new rights.

“On 1st May, we’ll be making some noise [on social media] about why we’re so relieved to see the end of section 21, along with all the other changes brought in by the Renters’ Rights Act.

“Celebrating the rights we have won is really important – not only because it will help make people aware of their rights, but because it shows that real change can be brought about when we take a stand together.”

Local elections

Also in May, more than a third of councils in England will hold local elections.

The coalition continued: “We can expect plenty of chatter about what the results mean for central Government, but these elections are important in their own right. Setting the agenda on the local level is vital for renters across the country.

“We’ll be asking anyone standing to be a councillor to pledge their support for renters by actively tackling disrepair and extending selective landlord licensing schemes.

“These schemes are an important way for councils to know who’s renting in their ward and improve the safety, security, and quality of rented homes in a certain area by forcing landlords to address problems.”

Pic courtesy: Renters Reform Coalition