Sadiq Khan unveils cash for London’s tenants to tackle landlords

A £400,000 fund will help London’s renters challenge landlords and understand their rights when the Renters’ Rights Act takes effect on 1 May.

The cash will back advice services, renter groups and training for borough officers who pursue criminal landlords.

The mayor, Sadiq Khan, launched the enforcement fund with a call for rent cap powers to be devolved.

Also, new YouGov polling commissioned by the Greater London Authority has found three-quarters of Londoners would back such rent rise limits.

Ensure rules are met

Sadiq Khan said: “We are seeing the biggest expansion of renters’ rights for a generation – this is a change that I have long called for and will transform the lives of London’s 2.7 million renters.

“I’m pleased to announce a new Renters’ Rights Enforcement Fund so that renters in London know their new rights, from a ban on no-fault evictions to tribunals to challenge unreasonable rent hikes.

“It also means that crucially organisations will have more resources to make sure the new rules are upheld.”

He added: “I believe the next step is for Ministers to devolve the power to cap rents so we can tackle the capital’s problems of both affordability and supply.

“And the evidence is clear – Londoners would overwhelmingly back new plans to put a cap on rent increases in the capital.”

Funds to check on landlords

The fund fulfils a manifesto pledge to help organisations inform tenants of their new rights.

There will also be online tools and checkers to enable tenants ‘to hold their landlords and letting agents to account’.

There’s also a plan for better intelligence-sharing between boroughs on problem properties.

Mr Khan also wants to exempt new build-to-rent homes from any rent caps to encourage supply.

The mayor’s office will launch a fresh awareness campaign next month using online adverts and posters on the TfL network.

No to rent controls

Ben Twomey, the chief executive of Generation Rent, said: “The Renters’ Rights Act is a major step forward in rebalancing the power between landlords and renters, giving us more security in our homes.

“Ahead of this new law coming into action, the mayor’s funding of tenants’ organisations is most welcome to help make every renter aware of the new rights.

“With this funding, organisations can do more to support the law to reach into people’s homes and improve their lives.”

Jordan McCay, a policy officer at the British Property Federation, said: “While it is encouraging to see Build to Rent protected from calls for rent controls given its key role in expanding housing supply, this protection is recognition that rent controls pose significant risks to investment and the availability and homes, and should not be introduced at all.

“Evidence from Scotland shows how interference in rent-setting reduces investment and shrinks housing supply, worsening affordability for tenants.

“Introduction of rent controls in England risks repeating these patterns, prompting private landlords to exit the sector and deterring new investment and delivery.”