Activists Urge Tenants to Stop Paying Rent

Its not about tenants. Its the the politics of the extreme left and their hatred of property ownership by individuals rather than the state that has brought this about. Any opportunity to politicise a crisis. They had a good kicking in December at the election and are feeling pretty sore and are trying to use this to re-ignite a class war. Change the record Momentum or whatever clothes you wear these days. You lost. Get over it.

You wrote:
"As a single person under 25 renting a bedroom in a shared property in the North London area they could have received up to £295 per week for rent alone".

I find this extraordinary! This amount would provide them with a flat in the North London area, not merely a bedroom in a shared property. Could you provide me your source for this statement?

Many thanks.

They're onto a loser here. Even the Labour Shadow Housing Minister doesn't believe this is the way to go.

https://labourlist.org/2020/05/cancel-the-rent-policy-would-be-un-labour-says-debbonaire/

All that will happen is that these tenants will get into debt and eventually face legal action, have a damaged credit rating and won't be able to find alternative accommodation in the future. They'll have to then choose between paying a fortune to stay in hotels or to go and live in a tent.

Reply to the comment left by Dr Rosalind Beck at 15/05/2020 - 13:30
You took the words right out of my mouth .

The maximum a single person under 35 in Inner North London can get to pay for housing is £147.29/week. Anyone can check this on the VOA's website. Somehow Joss Urch seems to think it's double that. As for the idea it could be three times higher than the amount they need for rent?! Where exactly in London are they renting a room for £50/week, and what type of room is it?

A very well written piece. The renters unions are indeed a movement, rather than a union. Acorn tweeted this week that they were running a 'member defence' training course. It sounded a bit militaristic, so asked what it was. This is their reply:
"Thanks for your enquiry, ACORN is a community union that operates much like a trade union does in the workplace but in the community instead. Our member defence focuses around support our members and their communities in fighting for their rights and much of this includes tenants rights and representing tenants in disputes against their landlords and letting agents. This training will focus on how we collectively organise to support tenants in the context of the coronavirus and it’s effects on people’s abilities to maintain tenancies and pay rents in suitable and healthy homes. We’ll cover how we take and work cases and how we will be building campaigns to change the conditions of the private rented sector"

I asked if they would be interested in hearing from a landlord. Their answer was no - that landlords have a lot of people lobbying on their behalf and Acorn lobbies for tenants' rights! I had to laugh

That's why there is only ever one side of the story. Typical left wing. It's their way or the highway. Or in their case the " Road To Hell" where there is no council housing, no other social housing, and no private rental sector. Welcome to Renters Dystopia, when they really want a Utopia. But they don't realise that their actions have the opposite effect to that which they want.

To be fair I don't think there is an activist whatever their cause that is not shouting that their cause is now more important because of coronavirus. Be it calls for higher pay for public sector, Becoming more environmentally friendly, more money for carers allowance, more money for benefits. The list could go on and on.

Certain sections of the left including Shelter will not be happy until every landlord is not allowed to make a penny of rent, with still all the risk being on the landlord. It only goes I believe to highlight the inequality of rights, they are not suggesting you walk out of Tesco without paying or stop paying council tax, as this is a criminal offence, yet don't pay your rent and it will take a landlord 5 months+ and thousands of pounds to evict, even this slow and costly option has been removed.

Thankfully most tenants put this sort of rubbish in the same pile as flat earthers and will want to continue living in their home post coronavirus.

You highlighted the inaccuracies extremely well, unfortunately I bet Damien will not read past the first sentence as it does not fit with either his narrative or Attention grabbing headline. (Lets face it a headline of "Tenants should continue to pay rent with support available if they are struggling" is hardly going to get many views.

"it is my understanding that all those who don’t will be eligible to receive Universal Credit"

This is not correct and is a false assumption. Not everybody can claim UC. Take take two financially independent people living together together as boyfriend/girlfriend. If one loses their job and the other is still working, then the person laid off won't be able to claim UC, they will then become dependent on the person still working. They won't be entitled to housing benefit either. If their finances were already at breaking point, then they will now be broken.

People commenting here appear to have forgotten all the horror stories that were appearing in the press about claiming UC prior to the lock down. They've just been drowned out by the pandemic, but will still be taking place.

You couldn't have said it better.

Those that tout for tenants to stop paying rent, only make it worse for them long term as more Landlords that have pushed that one bit too far, pack up earlier than they was going to.
Leaving less supply, more demand, & we all know what happens to prices then. And availability.