Private and social housing tenants urged to join rent strike

Private and social housing tenants urged to join rent strike

10:56 AM, 13th October 2022, About A year ago 28

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Campaigners are warning that unless the government imposes an across-the-board freeze on rents and service charges in England, then private and social housing tenants will be urged to join a rent strike.

The warning comes from Social Housing Action Campaign (SHAC) which, along with other campaign groups, has written to the housing secretary Simon Clarke over the rent cap for social housing consultation – which ends this week.

The group also says that private rental sector (PRS) tenants need to be protected from ‘profiteering landlords’ and that the PRS should also see a rent freeze and a ban on evictions being imposed.

Rent increase cap

The consultation by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) is aimed at finding out whether there should be a rent increase cap of zero – or 3%, 5% or 7%.

The government says it wants to install a maximum cap of 5%.

But the 5% cap would see the income of social landlords being reduced by £1.3bn next year.

And the National Housing Federation (NHF) has warned that without extra government funding, social landlords will struggle to build new homes – and maintain the properties they do have.

They have also said that supported housing would become unviable.

SHAC wants the government to freeze social rents

However, SHAC wants the government to freeze social rents, service charges and shared ownership rents for 2023-24.

The group says that any rise will lead to homelessness and worsen poverty for tenants struggling with the cost-of-living crisis.

They also want the re-introduction of the evictions ban that was unveiled during the Covid-19 lockdown.

Social housing rent rises are capped by the government

Social housing rent rises are capped currently by the government, and they use the Consumer Price Index (CPI) of inflation plus 1% which is set every September.

In its letter to Mr Clarke, SHAC says: “Rents for council and housing association tenants were set to rise by 11% or more in April 2023.

“A 3-7% formula rent rise will still mean deeper poverty and the risk of homelessness for many, and a further burden for four million tenant households already facing massive bills for food, energy and other necessities.”

They say the government should:

  • Freeze rents for all council and housing association tenants in 2023
  • Extend the freeze to service charges
  • Re-introduce the ban on eviction proceedings for rent arrears for council and housing association tenants where tenants are unable to pay
  • Provide government funding to councils to ensure there is no effect on housing quality or services to tenants.
  • Support to housing associations and registered providers should be provided on a means-tested basis.

The letter was also signed by Defend Council Housing (DCH), Homes 4 All, The New Economics Foundation, and Housing Action Southwark and Lambeth.

Private rental sector tenants are also being considered

However, it’s also worth noting that private rental sector tenants are also being considered and the letter points out:

“We recognise that these issues also affect private renters and leaseholders and are working with others of all tenures to win a rent freeze, stop evictions, protect tenants from profiteering private landlords and leaseholders from increasing service charges.

“We need Government investment in more and better homes with secure tenancies and social rents.”


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Comments

Lee Bailey

11:39 AM, 13th October 2022, About A year ago

Insanity...

Mr.A

11:50 AM, 13th October 2022, About A year ago

This had to happen ,eventually, the government pandering to the one sided non sense these so called charities spew out and giving them too much leverage and power .in order to win some votes ,wonder how many tenants will vote for them that will lose their homes because there are no homes to rent .
Now the tail is trying to wag the dog , the "charities " are flexing their muscles ,talk about government stupidity this is all the governments own making a rod for their own backs ,the muzzle was taken off and now the "charities " are bareing their teeth and will ,bite the hand that set them loose .

John MacAlevey

12:01 PM, 13th October 2022, About A year ago

`We will also continue to highlight the gross housing injustice that allows our homes to be used as cash cows, with human need coming a very poor second.`

SHAC website.

The inverse of which is landlords are cashless cows as they don`t get paid rent rightfully due.

Judith Wordsworth

12:09 PM, 13th October 2022, About A year ago

Interesting that this strike is also wanting service charges frozen. If this for all housing or excludes the PRS?
Freezing service charges will obviously / may benefit PRS landlords with leasehold properties.
But not paying any increase in service charge monthly demands could lead to a s146 being issued against the leasehold landlord then the tenants would become homeless anyway.
I still say let's all serve s21 Notices on an agreed day, it costs nothing bar a stamp, and then see what the Government/Campaigners for tenants then do. Don't have to follow through to gain possession, unless anyone wants to.

Neilt

12:34 PM, 13th October 2022, About A year ago

Reply to the comment left by Judith Wordsworth at 13/10/2022 - 12:09
"I still say let's all serve s21 Notices on an agreed day"!
No, don't do that. The government may use their powers to override those s21 s, which won't help anyone.

Paul Essex

12:34 PM, 13th October 2022, About A year ago

On the plus side it could flag up potential trouble makers whilst section 21 is still available. Thus avoiding much more pain in the future.

Mick Roberts

12:48 PM, 13th October 2022, About A year ago

They don't get it do they. Every time they do stuff like this, they make it worse for the next hundreds of thousands of tenants & theirselves when the temporary ban finishes. This is why they can't get anywhere affordable as it is.
Keep doing it people cause for those of us Landlords that stay in business & can ride it out, u making it much better for us long term. Opposite of what u want.

Clint

13:14 PM, 13th October 2022, About A year ago

Reply to the comment left by Judith Wordsworth at 13/10/2022 - 12:09
Great idea.

Luke P

14:34 PM, 13th October 2022, About A year ago

How's about they watch the Scottish Judicial Review on this first...

Barbaracus

15:39 PM, 13th October 2022, About A year ago

Let the small minority strike all it will do is hurt their references for future rental applications and thus make them unviable tenants for Landlords.

Obviously when they get rejected for rental properties in the future it will be the Landlords fault, nothing to do with them paying their rent late/not paying rent.

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