What’s on offer for renters tomorrow?
Tomorrow is polling day! Before you cast your vote, here’s a round up of the policies from each party’s manifesto on the issues we’ve been campaigning on since the last election
What is your vote worth? Renters could make a difference in these seats
2.4 million private renters could miss out on voting at the General Election if they don’t register to vote by midnight tomorrow.
Private renters move house more frequently than homeowners, and as a result, just 58% are correctly registered, compared with 91% of homeowners, according to figures by the Electoral Commission. Many renters are on contracts of just 12 months, and private renters are six times more likely to move in a given year than homeowners.
We’ve worked out which Parliamentary seats could be decided by private renters on 12 December – the seats in orange and brown have more unregistered private renters than the number of votes the last MP won by.
Labour’s Manifesto – Real Change for Renters?
Next in our series of manifesto reviews, we delve into the Labour Party’s pledges to assess what they offer for private renters.
Conservative Party Manifesto: What can renters expect?
In the final instalment of our manifesto reviews, we take a look at what the Conservative Party has to offer private renters.
Smaller parties manifesto round up
We’ve looked at what the SNP, Plaid Cymru, the DUP and the Brexit Party – parties that are only standing in parts of the UK – have to offer renters.
Three of these parties are only standing in nations where housing issues are devolved, so they understandably have less interest in housing at this election, but there are some issues – like housing benefit – that are decided by Westminster for the whole of the UK.
The new Parliament must end the renting crisis
Last night, Boris Johnson won a landslide victory. He must take this opportunity to end the renting crisis.
MPs snub renters over letting fees
The Government yesterday backed letting agents over renters by refusing to ban fees to tenants. In voting on the Consumer Rights Bill, Conservative and LibDem whips defeated the ban 281 to 228. The Government instead promised new fines for agents who don’t publish their fee tariff.
Rent Freedom Day – videos now up
If you couldn’t make it to Rent Freedom Day, we have the next best thing – video of two of the biggest events on the schedule: the opening speech from journalist, author and fresh-faced firebrand Owen Jones (20 mins), and the National Renters Hustings (1h15m).
MPs from four main parties came together for the first time in the real world to debate renting and face questions from the public. Conservative Mark Pawsey, Labour’s Emma Reynolds, Lib Dem Minister Stephen Williams and the Greens’ Caroline Lucas all bravely faced an audience that has long been overlooked by politicians and wants answers. UKIP was invited but didn’t send anyone.
What are the parties offering renters?
All five main UK-wide parties have now published their election manifestos. I took a trawl through them to dig out their plans for renters and the wider housing market.
Quiz your local candidates on housing – organise a hustings!
We’re less than three months away from the General Election, and voters still haven’t made up their minds about which party has the best policies to fix the housing crisis.
Do your part to help your friends and neighbours reach a decision by organising a Housing Hustings.