The real reason rents have been rocketing
For the past couple of years, anyone who has tried to move to a new rented home has been shocked by how high rents are – and often face extra […]
The cost of unwanted moves
Moving home is expensive – it’s even worse when you have no choice in the matter. Unwanted moves are costing private renters in England £229m per year.
You may have more protections than you think
The ban on most evictions was lifted this week and the notice period on Section 21 evictions has been reduced from 6 months to 4 months. But if your landlord has failed to provide you with certain documents you could be protected from eviction – up to three quarters of renters, according to our latest research.
Our new research has also revealed the lack of knowledge about rights among private renters, which the first Renters’ Rights Awareness Week, taking place on 14-20 June, aims to change.
Broken benefits system leaves renters footing the bill for coronavirus
Half a million private renter households are losing £53m a month because the benefits system is failing to cover their rent. That is the shocking finding from our latest report on the impact of coronavirus on private renters.
Between February and August the number of private renters claiming benefits increased by 36% – or 507,000 households.
Two in five private renters (42%) – 1.9m households – now rely on Universal Credit or Housing Benefit to pay their rent, but miserly benefit rates mean that 538,000 households can’t cover their rent.
No-fault evictions drive up homelessness
Section 21 is the leading cause of statutory homelessness. This law allows evictions with no reason needed, and this is one more reason why we should scrap it.
To some extent, this is stating the bleeding obvious. Since 2012, the end of a private tenancy has been the leading cause of homelessness cases accepted by local authorities, but until now no one has specifically pointed the finger at Section 21. Today, we’ve been able to demonstrate it.
Source: Ministry of Housing
Public backs better security for renters
As the consultation period on the government’s proposals for longer tenancies draws to a close – the deadline to respond is this Sunday – we are handing in our End Unfair Evictions petition to the Ministry of Housing today. It passed 50,000 signatures on Tuesday, helped along by #VentYourRent.
And if that wasn’t enough to make the government pay attention, new polling from Survation finds that our demands have the backing of the wider public, including Conservative voters.
Here’s another reason to boo rising house prices
I bet you thought rising house prices just made it more difficult for you to ever own your own home.
Well, it’s even worse than that.
Rising house prices increase your risk of being evicted.
Already angry? Jump straight to our campaign page.
Save £100s with our new resource for flathunters
If you happen to be planning a move to (or within) the London boroughs of Croydon, Ealing, Tower Hamlets or Waltham Forest, then we might be able to save you a few hundred quid.
Volunteers in these areas have compiled a comprehensive list of local letting agents and their tenant fees at www.lettingfees.co.uk.
Tower Hamlets Renters have used their research to name and shame local agents
The generation rent vote could decide the 2015 election
Private renters could hold the deciding vote in 86 parliamentary seats at next year’s General Election. That’s the big finding of analysis based on our ComRes poll that we have published today.