0:05 AM, 23rd June 2023, About 2 years ago 33
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London’s Mayor Sadiq Khan has called for an immediate two-year rent freeze AND a ban on section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions in London to help 160,000 Londoners who are behind on their rent.
His call comes as a survey from City Hall reveals that 30% of private renters in the capital are struggling financially – and 24% of tenants are struggling to pay their rent.
The survey found that 6% of renters have fallen behind in rent over the past six months.
The Greater London Authority says there are 2.7m Londoners in the private rented sector – so Mr Khan says that means 650,000 are struggling with their rent and 160,000 have fallen behind with payments.
One of the problems, Mr Khan says, is that the average rent in the capital is now £2,500 per month.
As a result, the Mayor has repeated his call on the Government to urgently introduce a two-year rent freeze in London to ease the burden on renters as the cost-of-living crisis worsens.
He also wants section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions to be banned ‘without delay’.
Mr Khan said: “With astronomical rents, bills and the cost of household essentials rising, many London renters are only just about managing – and the situation is getting worse.
“More and more people are now at risk of being evicted.
“That’s why it has never been more urgent for the Government to implement an immediate two-year rent freeze in the capital and give me the power to introduce a system of rent controls that works for London.”
Mr Khan continued: “While the publication of the Government’s long-overdue Renters’ Reform Bill is a positive step forward, my message to ministers is that they must also take action now to make rents more affordable as a matter of urgency.
“As we work to build a better, fairer London for everyone, I’ll continue to stand up for renters in our city and do all I can to help them pay their rent and keep their homes.”
The Mayor also points to May’s Homelet rental data index which reveals that new tenancies in London cost a tenant 36% on average of their household income on rent – that’s 5% higher than the national average.
Also, the average new tenancy rent has rocketed since the pandemic with Rightmove data revealing that the average advertised rent in the capital reached £2,501 a month in March.
He says this is ‘unsustainable’ and leaves tenants unable to afford rent and losing their home.
A City Hall analysis say there were 3,630 households facing homelessness in London last year after receiving a Section 21 ‘no-fault’ eviction notice.
Mr Khan is also calling for social and council rented housing, more first-time buyer homes, London’s high renting costs to be reflected in the welfare system and a ‘fundamental reform’ of the PRS to provide secure and safe homes.
The director of Generation Rent, Ben Twomey, said: “If London can’t provide homes for the people who want to live here, that’s a disaster not only for the city, but the country as a whole.
“People are being forced to move away from their families, others cannot take up job offers, and more of us are compromising by accepting overcrowded accommodation just to have a bed that lets us live here.”
He added: “Renters in London are at a very high risk of being evicted so landlords can sell or put the rent up.
“The Renters’ Reform Bill could make a huge difference to their security of tenure, but it needs to ensure bad landlords can’t continue exploiting tenants and include better protections for tenants who face eviction for reasons beyond their control.”
A Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities spokesperson said: “We recognise people are facing pressures in the private rented sector, which is why we introduced the Renters’ Reform Bill in May, delivering a fairer deal for renters and empowering them to challenge unjustified rent increases and banning Section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions.
“Evidence shows that rent controls in the private sector do not work, as they lead to declining standards, a lack of investment and may encourage illegal subletting.”
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Sign Up18:30 PM, 30th June 2023, About A year ago
Reply to the comment left by Sheridan Vickers at 28/06/2023 - 20:06
Section 8 asap and add in an additional note about access being denied to gain elec and gas certification.
Make a timeline list of everything that has started all this off . All dates of communication and letters etc sent to tenant about access for checks etc.
You could issue a S21 yourself (knowing it cant progress) just to see if that puts the wind up them?
You can show the council this. They wont have any idea if it has been issued correctly or not and as a result this is evidence that they are being put on notice that they may have a duty of care to house them. Is this tenant classed as vulnerable? (look up the 5 or so requirements that they may fit into.) If they do then the council will own a 56 day duty knowing they are now at risk of homlessnes.
Dont tell the council able the lack of access to do checks etc. Just say that although you dont have to say why you issued it, the reality is rent arrears and that this is the issue. Say you may be willing to let the tenants stay on if this is addressed. You might find that the council on paper just see you wanting rent and it will be cheaper for them to pay you what the arrears are than have the tenant on their doorstep and back in expensive temp accommodation.
Only really works if you can get the council to agree they owe a duty of care and that you are willing to let the tenant stay there if the rent arrears are paid up. If the tenant is paid by UC you can after 2 months of arrears fill in a UC47 request. You can also ask for direct rent payments. Get the ball rolling asap.
Sheridan Vickers
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Sign Up15:08 PM, 2nd July 2023, About A year ago
Reply to the comment left by DSR at 30/06/2023 - 18:30
Thank you for your help ☺️
Derek Chekansky
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Sign Up23:38 PM, 5th July 2023, About A year ago
Does this guy not understand the principal of ownership. The audacity, its typical of some to think landlords are entrepreneurial tycoons and loaded. If someone has used their savings to by a property to give them a pension, who has the right to tell them what to charge someone to live in it. Especially when the cost of living is rising for all, not just tenants. Are they capping community tax in his area? No cos that's not the private sector that cant escape, its useless government, like him.