One of the driving forces behind a summit being held to consider rent controls in a major city says she is “sick of being ripped off by landlords.”
Jo Sparks, Bristol branch secretary of the anti-landlord and anti-agent activist group Acorn, is backing a summit to be held by the city’s Labour-controlled council on March 2.
She says: “Everyone deserves decent, affordable and secure housing. Acorn has fought for it for years in Bristol and it’s about time that we started pushing the government for proper controls on rent, which is absolutely extortionate for most ordinary Bristolians.
“We’re sick of being ripped off by those landlords who take a huge chunk of our income and give us substandard housing in return.
“We have consistently campaigned for the council to push for rent controls and welcome the Bristol administration’s renewed commitment on this issue.”
Sarah Fitzgerald from the Bristol Fair Renting Campaign - another pressure group, helping to organise the summit - adds: “The Fair Renting Campaign has called on the local council to make renting in Bristol fair and affordable for everyone, and they are listening.
“This renters’ summit is an opportunity for Bristol's renters to add their voice to the call, to tell their stories, and to help shape the future of Bristol's private rental market.
“From ending discrimination to exploring rent control measures, this is a moment where we can start to make the changes Bristol needs, and this summit is the first step. So come along and help us shape Bristol's future.”
The summit is being led by Bristol’s Labour mayor Marvin Rees and will take place on Wednesday 2 March between 6.30 and 8.30pm. Tickets can be booked online.
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Yep we likewise are sick of you too. You do realise when you turn up for a viewing with blue hair and socialist/communism kill the fascists stuff on your FB we just smile and say we will consider your application - drop shot round file
Nobody is “giving” you anything. It’s a transaction. You see and accept the property, landlord accepts you (or not). Nobody forces neither of you to anything.
“We’re sick of being ripped off by those landlords who take a huge chunk of our income and give us substandard housing in return.
Well if you feel like that i would suggest you seek a mortgage to purchase YOUR own home, like I did. I am getting sick and tired of people who think I, and my fellow LL's owe them a living and i am here to make their life easy...... that is your job.
If you push us too far we will leave you all high and dry, you will then fall onto the charity of the local authority (good luck with that one). If you want cheaper rents then campaign to the govt and the local authority for a lot more social houses to be built, this is the only solution, the PRS is not the answer to the current crisis...... although the govt will make out it is in a classic deflection tactic.
I'd like to see you do that?
Surely if the housing is sub standard the simple answer is to move to a better property, I'm sure your landlord would like to see the back of you, 5* accommodation = 5* cost, you pays your money and take your choice
It is a 2-way street - If you meet Landlord’s criteria, we arrange a viewing. Following discussion and going through paperwork, ‘YOU’ decide whether you wish to rent it. There is no hard-sell. Landlord then decides whether to offer YOU a tenancy, following relevant checks. ‘YOU’ choose whether to accept or not, armed with all the relevant information and house criteria.
How many more hoops can they ask us to jump through!!
Frances- It appears they want us to jump through many more hoops ! Well I am not for jumping.
Rents in London for example in the 5 years, 2015-2020 dropped in real terms by 9.6%. IF (and its a big if) tenants understood the market better and realised this, they wouldn't be a single one of them supporting rent controls and would ask Acorn to wind their neck in, the same will be the case in most cities. If you cap increases at RPI, every landlord will insist on an RPI increase every year, whereas now a great many do not and let the market dictate the level. Will tenants want a 5-7% gauranteed increase each year?
I have one property with a registered rent, lovely little old lady lived there since 1958, rent always paid, even in lock down, however rent is increased by RPI every 2 yrs, I have to do that, so if rent controls do come in I will have to increase every tenants rent by RIP as often as allowed, good tenants the losers again.
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