Generation Rent calls for an end to ‘discriminatory’ Right to Rent

Generation Rent calls for an end to ‘discriminatory’ Right to Rent

0:05 AM, 12th November 2024, About 4 weeks ago 21

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Tenant activist group Generation Rent is urging the government to abolish the Right to Rent policy, arguing that it disproportionately affects migrant and ethnic minority renters.

In a report, it details the negative consequences of the policy, which requires landlords in England to check the immigration status of potential tenants.

The research highlights the findings from the Tenancy Deposit Scheme (TDS) which found that 24% of landlords still feel unable to rent to non-UK passport holders, despite the policy being in place for more than eight years.

Also, 85% of prospective tenants who requested online Right to Rent checks received no response from landlords or letting agents.

When questioned, 56% of landlords who said they couldn’t rent to non-UK passport holders pointed to the risk of civil penalties if they were caught out by the policy as a reason.

Who has the right to rent

Generation Rent says: “Although landlords and agents must not make assumptions about who has the right to rent, government research found that 25% of landlords were unwilling, on principle, to let to non-British passport holders, even when they would have the right to rent here.”

“It takes twice as long for black and minority ethnic groups and migrant peoples to find a home to rent compared to a white British person.”

The group held roundtables with UNISON in April to learn of the experiences of public sector workers.

Most of those highlighted the negative impact that Right to Rent had on their, and their family and friends’, ability to find safe and secure homes.

Overhaul the private rented sector

Generation Rent says that the Renters’ Rights Bill offers a crucial opportunity to overhaul the private rented sector and ensure fair and secure housing for all.

However, to succeed, the Bill must address the specific needs of marginalised renters, particularly those from migrant and minority ethnic communities who are disproportionately affected by the housing crisis.

And that means, it says, abolishing the discriminatory Right to Rent policy.


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Reluctant Landlord

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9:20 AM, 12th November 2024, About 4 weeks ago

Yawnnnn....

The RRB is going to do nothing to stop the 'issues' they think it is going to address. Time will show it's only going to make the (many problems) worse.

Markella Mikkelsen

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9:46 AM, 12th November 2024, About 4 weeks ago

The Right to Rent essentially asks landlords to do the job of the Home Office.
I want to make this job as risk-free as possible for me, beacuse the civil penalties are not worth it.
The only way I can keep it risk free is by renting to UK passport holders.
If the Home Office did their job properly, especially now that they have received their 5% above inflation pay rise (well-deserved - not!!) , and kept those people who don't have the right to reside in the UK outside the UK, this would not be a problem, would it?
So how about "an overhaul of the Home Office"? Or "an overhaul of the public sector" ? Or even better "An overhaul of this entire clown Governement"?

Cider Drinker

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10:15 AM, 12th November 2024, About 4 weeks ago

Relaxing the Right to Rent checks would mean we would have more renters. How on Earth would that help legitimate renters?

It would increase demand and rents would rise.

moneymanager

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10:15 AM, 12th November 2024, About 4 weeks ago

'government research found that 25% of landlords were unwilling, on principle, to let to non-British passport holders, even when they would have the right to rent here.”

I'd never do that, many foreign students are my best paying tenants. What DOES concern me is the likely abolition if fixed term, flexible payment terms for those with no UK track record or evidenced income, the loss of that will make many migrants unviable.

Jo Westlake

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10:22 AM, 12th November 2024, About 4 weeks ago

The Right to Rent share code system is brilliant. It's far easier to obtain certainty that an international tenant has the Right to Rent than a remote UK applicant.
How many UK applicants don't bring their passport with them to viewings, want to rent remotely via video viewing, leave their passport with their parents, etc. It is now possible to pay companies to do online ID verification but it can be a bit glitchy. I've had about a 50% success rate with it over the last year whereas the government share code has been 100% successful.

Generation rent is inventing a problem that doesn't exist for anyone who is legally entitled to be in the UK.

Marlena Topple

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10:40 AM, 12th November 2024, About 4 weeks ago

I insist on a share code. Checking Right to Rent is a piece of cake with a share code. It is easier than checking a passport because the check can be done remotely and there is no need for a physical copy.

TheMaluka

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12:20 PM, 12th November 2024, About 4 weeks ago

Yet another example of the ineptitude of Generation Rent.

Reluctant Landlord

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12:24 PM, 12th November 2024, About 4 weeks ago

However, to succeed, the Bill must address the specific needs of marginalised renters, particularly those from migrant and minority ethnic communities who are disproportionately affected by the housing crisis.

Its not a renters rights bill that is required here, it's a hard line immigration/asylum legislation...

Reluctant Landlord

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12:31 PM, 12th November 2024, About 4 weeks ago

accepting or not accepting a right to rent has little to do with housing discrimination in this contect. The underlying focus is that tenancies are not being ultimately offered to certain applicants.

The reality is that full referencing is not possible (often a requirement for rent gtee insurance AND now becoming a LL requirement for a selective licence!) and often affordability cannot be met.

Not a landlords problem! We are applying the rules not making them.

SirAA

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13:31 PM, 12th November 2024, About 4 weeks ago

Marxists Generation Rent may have a good and potentially welcome idea for once.

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