0:03 AM, 4th August 2023, About A year ago 4
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Generation Rent claims that three in five private renters (60%) have experienced higher rent demands in the past year – but 40% of tenants HAVE NOT seen their rents rise.
The organisation’s survey also reveals that the number of tenants reporting rent hikes due to rising interest rates has tripled since the last survey in November, affecting 12% of all private renters.
However, the most common reason cited for rent increases remains rising market rents, affecting 17% of renters.
The survey is of Generation Rent ‘supporters’ and not a random sample of tenants.
Generation Rent says: “We are calling on the government to abolish Section 21 evictions and make it easier to challenge rent rises as soon as possible through the Renters Reform Bill.
“With many landlords struggling to cover interest rate rises, tenants need protection from unaffordable rent hikes and where landlords need to sell, the government should introduce measures to encourage them to sell with sitting tenants.
“To make renting more affordable, the government also needs to relink Local Housing Allowance with market rents and do more to build more homes in the places people want to live.”
Of those facing a rent rise, 20% were requested to pay over £100 more per month, up from 12% in November.
Just 3 respondents said they had challenged a landlord’s request to increase rent at a tribunal.
However, the survey also reveals that evictions are on the rise, with 20% of private renters being asked to vacate their homes in the past 12 months.
Among them, 12% were served a no-fault Section 21 notice, representing an increase from 14% in the previous survey.
When asked about the reasons for the rent increases, 12% of private renters attributed the hikes to higher mortgage payments, a significant increase from 4% in November.
However, the majority (17%) cited ‘higher market rents’ as the leading cause, up from 16% previously.
The cost of living and inflation were also responsible for 11% of rent increases.
Generation Rent said: “Our survey shows that a cost of renting crisis is forcing tenants to bear the worst of the current economic turmoil.
“While many mortgage holders have yet to see their monthly payments increase, most private renters have already faced a rent hike this past year.
“So far only a minority of landlords have been affected so badly by rising rates that they are passing them on to tenants.
“But the rising cost of rent is a much wider problem caused by the failure to build enough homes where people want to live, and the ability of landlords to raise rents regardless of what their tenant can afford.
“The government’s response to this needs to put tenants first: prevent unaffordable rent increases and protect tenants in their homes if their landlord needs to sell.”
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Mick Roberts
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Sign Up11:28 AM, 4th August 2023, About A year ago
They prevent rent increases, they wont have a house to start with.
Hang on a minute, so you are telling me, I rent my £150,000 house out that I've spent £30,000 on & 4 months refurbishing like new, that if I want it back, you are going to make this extremely hard & near impossible & fight me with all the free for tenant lawyers possible, with every small print you have? I'm sorry, I'm not even giving u the house to start with.
And that Renter's Union and Shelter, is why very good tenants {and most are good-All mine are) can't get anywhere, and if they can, they paying through the roof. Supply demand creates extortionate rent. All Govt Council Shelter Renter's Unions making.
Stella
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Sign Up13:40 PM, 4th August 2023, About A year ago
Reply to the comment left by Mick Roberts at 04/08/2023 - 11:28
Spot on Mick
This is why we are so careful about who we have as tenants and why Crisis Generation Rent the Government are barking up the wrong tree.
There was a time when I would give people a chance even if they did not have sufficiant income or if they had other problems but no longer the risk is too great.
I have just recently advertised a 2 bed house with openrent and within a very short period of time the number of applicants reached 100 at which point it is openrents policy to stop advertising the property.
With the amounts of tenants chasing so few properties you would think that the penny would drop and the Government would realise that their policies are not helping anyone.
No woner so many landlords are runnong for the hills!
Mick Roberts
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Sign Up14:02 PM, 4th August 2023, About A year ago
Reply to the comment left by Stella at 04/08/2023 - 13:40
Same here. Used to take anyone Pre 2015. Gave loads a chance who proved their worth. And others shafted me & the house & ultimately theirselves.
Anne Nixon
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Sign Up17:37 PM, 4th August 2023, About A year ago
Excellent news for the 40% of tenants that have not had a rent rise. They are doing well then.
Remind me again what other commodity has not had a price rise in the last year . . .fuel? food? clothes? insurance? building materials?