Generation Rent joins the chorus for a new Renters (Reform) Bill

Following on the heels of the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA), Generation Rent is also calling for the next government to bring in a new Renters (Reform) Bill as a matter of urgency.

It says this will protect households and families from homelessness – and the organisation wants more social and affordable homes to be built to help bring down the cost of renting.

Research from Generation Rent reveals that just under a quarter of councils in England spent £1 in every £20 of their Core Spending Power (CPS) on temporary accommodation in 2022-23.

Of these councils, 20 (8%) spent at least £1 in every £10 of their CSP on temporary accommodation.

Leading cause of homelessness

The organisation’s chief executive, Ben Twomey, said: “Section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions remain a leading cause of homelessness in our country.

“Now, more than ever, private renters need a new law to end these unfair evictions and grant us the proper protections we need to keep us safe from homelessness.”

He added: “After many delays and watering-down of the Bill, the government scrapped the Renters (Reform) Bill after calling the election.

“The Bill was already not in a fit state to offer renters the vital protections that they need, yet further delays mean that renters will continue to be driven into temporary accommodation.”

Introduce long-overdue reforms

Mr Twomey continued: “It is now a matter of urgency that the next government introduce these long-overdue reforms to make renting work for the millions of private renters and the local communities being saddled with spiralling temporary accommodation costs.

“The shocking strain that the cost of temporary accommodation now has on local councils is totally preventable.

“Where once people were able to find safe and affordable homes, we are now living in total insecurity, within a cruel and broken system.”

The research reveals which councils are spending the most on temporary accommodation and they are Hastings – 49.3%, Crawley – 30.1%, Arun – 26.0%, Swale – 22.4% and Rother – 19.8%.

According to the Local Government Association, the number of households living in temporary accommodation has risen by 89% over the past decade, costing councils at least £1.74 billion in 2022/23 in total spending.