Renter’s Rights Awareness Week
Dear Editor,
During Renter’s Rights Awareness Week, we need to spark a deeper discussion about how we can better protect London’s tenants now the Government’s moratorium on evictions has come to an end.
Many of the 2.7 million renters in the capital may now be at risk of losing their homes after falling into rent arrears during the pandemic. Both landlords and tenants need clarity and long term solutions to a problem that benefits no one.
It’s vital the Government listens to the calls from City Hall, to put in place an emergency fund to help those struggling with these arrears. London’s landlords will benefit too as this will provide a guarantee that they will not be out of pocket in the long-term.
More measures should be taken to give renters more protections, for example the introduction of longer-term tenancies offered as standard. This would give security to the 1 in 3 families living in the private rented sector.
Councils have a key role to play in enforcing good rental standards. Ministers must provide them with greater flexibility in introducing landlord licensing schemes.
It has also been over two years since the Government proposed a ban on section 21 or ‘no-fault’ evictions. They have since rowed back, stating in the Queen’s speech their intention to solely publish their consultation response on this issue. I want to see them now push these legislative measures through without further delay.
Yours,
Sem Moema AM
London Assembly Member for Hackney, Islington and Waltham Forest