Greens demand rent freeze and eviction ban

Greens demand rent freeze and eviction ban

10:23 AM, 28th November 2022, About A year ago 17

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An immediate cap on rent increases and a ban on no-fault evictions until at least the end of March 2023 are being demanded by the Green Party.

The party says the government must urgently bring forward its promised Renters Reform Bill in time to stave off ‘a winter of evictions and homelessness’.

And, they say, the government’s reforms must include an immediate ban on evictions and rent rises.

Landlords issuing no-fault eviction notices

The party’s call comes after it was revealed that thousands of tenants are at risk of homelessness after a 76% rise in the number of landlords issuing no-fault eviction notices.

The data from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government reveals that 5,940 households in England are at risk after being handed a Section 21 eviction notice between April and June.

That’s up from 3,380 in the same period in 2021.

‘Bill must include an immediate cap on rent increases’

Carla Denyer, co-leader of the Green Party of England and Wales, said: “The Bill must include an immediate cap on rent increases until at least the end of March 2023, as well as a ban on no-fault evictions over the same period to prevent landlords evicting tenants in order to raise rents.”

In Scotland, where the Scottish Greens are in government with the SNP, similar measures have already become law.

The party also points to average rental prices outside London becoming an issue for renters after they hit a high of £1,162 a month, jumping 11% in the past year.

The legislation is still a ‘priority’

The UK government produced a White Paper in June and housing minister Andrew Stephenson told Parliament in October the legislation is still a ‘priority’.

Ms Denyer said: “Knowing that you have a secure home over winter is vital for both physical and mental health.

“Households already face soaring energy and food costs; the last thing they need, on top of everything else they have to contend with, is unaffordable rent rises and the fear of being evicted.”

‘Rising private rents and increasing evictions’

She added: “Rising private rents and increasing evictions have also been cited as major causes of a dramatic increase in homelessness in London and other cities.

“The number of people sleeping rough on the capital’s streets has jumped by a shocking 24% in the past year.

“We are calling on the government to introduce an immediate freeze on rent rises and a ban on evictions by landlords who simply want to increase rents between tenancies.

“The Scottish government has introduced legislation to safeguard tenants this winter. We want to see the housing minister introduce similar measures in England, and for the Senedd to use its devolved powers to do so in Wales.”


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Comments

MartinR

14:24 PM, 28th November 2022, About A year ago

CD should stick to the day job of fixing herself to roads

PH

15:39 PM, 28th November 2022, About A year ago

How long will it be before landlords are sleeping in shop doorways or on park benches ? Or is it already happening? Don't suppose the Greens or government would be too bothered about that .

dismayed landlord

16:07 PM, 28th November 2022, About A year ago

I wonder if they will factor in the cost of medical assistance to landlords having breakdowns and mental health issues to their policies. All at a cost to the NHS. Before anyone laughs - I know of one already. What's the cost of 8 weeks in a secure mental health unit? Alcohol abuse costs? They are the decent landlords who have just had enough. There is a need to look at the whole picture. The rogue ones will not be affected. No more than the rogue tenants.

DAMIEN RAFFERTY

17:51 PM, 28th November 2022, About A year ago

There are over 4.43 million private rental properties in England alone and less than 6,000 have been served S21 eviction notices.
So 1 in every 738 tenancies.
I read last week that 10% of Police offices are either not fit or currently suspended from duty which makes up 10% of The Met Police.

Mark Harvey

20:01 PM, 2nd December 2022, About A year ago

A pay freeze is a joke, interest rises will continue to go up for the foreseeable future, and we do not get to offset our mortgage anymore.
What other business model is in the same situation.
I will be forced to put up the rent, and am made to look like the bad guy. Rental increases have already started rising again in my area.

dismayed landlord

7:45 AM, 3rd December 2022, About A year ago

Here is an artilce we can all comment on - even tenants if they are reading this blogg.
https://apple.news/AMdJm2TJ4TDm1Ax77zKXr-g
someone has written a piece and its on our side. Lets all comment on it. All - swamp the media story. Rather than keep posting in our own back yard.

NewYorkie

9:43 AM, 3rd December 2022, About A year ago

Disingenuous responses from Shelter and GR. While they continue to follow the same strategy, the crisis will only get worse. They can bash away at landlords, but at the end of the day, we can and will stop providing our services.

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