New demands from the Generation Rent group go much further than the original Renters Reform Bill in removing landlords’ rights.

The group – led by chief executive Ben Twomey, a former Labour local candidate – sets out the demands in a new manifesto.

This is for the next government but strongly follows some recent Labour thinking on the future of the private rental sector.

In particular it wants to heavily reduce any rights for a landlord to evict a tenant.

It says: “Landlords should be obliged to offer the tenant first refusal on the property before proceeding with an eviction. Landlords should have to prove it is their true intention to move or sell to a court as part of the process, with all evictions discretionary [our emphasis].”

It goes on to say that there should be a two year no-let period on any property which has seen a landlord need eviction. 

It also claims that “last year 300,000 tenants were evicted when they challenged an unaffordable rent increase” adding: “This demonstrates that landlords will be able to hike up tenants’ rents to force them out when the ban Section 21 is introduced. To prevent this, the loophole must be closed through in-tenancy rent rises being capped to prevent tenants being forced out by the back door.”

The Generation Rent demands go on: “For landlords who claim to be selling their property or moving in a relative in order to gain possession, a no re-let period of 24 months should apply, as an effective deterrent to abuse. 

“If the tenant wishes to stay in the property during the sale, landlords and mortgage lenders must be permitted and mandated to sell with the tenant in situ if selling to another landlord. 

“If a home is being bought by an owner occupier, then there should also be a 24 month no-let period.”

The rest of the Generation Rent manifesto makes familiar reading to those who have followed the process of the ill-fated Renters Reform Bill.

The activist group wants:

“Ending unfair evictions – Renters are waiting for an end to Section 21 no fault evictions which landlords can use to unfairly kick them out, denying them security in their homes”; 

“Stamp out illegal evictions – Local councils must have a legal duty, and proper resources available, to investigate and prosecute landlords who illegally evict tenants”;

“Open-ended tenancies – All tenancies should be open-ended for all tenants, so they can leave when they need to and can expect to stay as long as they like”;

“Safe, healthy and decent homes – The legal standards around safety and quality should be the same in all tenures, including in temporary accommodation (as well as privately rented and social housing)”;

“Landlord Register – There should be mandatory national registration of all private landlords, agents, and rented properties”;

“Rent controls – An affordable home is increasingly out of reach for many, with high rents pushing more and more people into financial hardship”;

“Deposit Reform – The government should implement a passporting system, allowing tenants to automatically transfer the value of their deposit to their next tenancy”;

“Green homes fit for the future, and an end to fuel poverty – All rented homes should be brought up to an Energy Performance Certificate rating of C or above”;

“A welfare system that supports safe, secure, affordable homes – Local Housing Allowance must be unfrozen and made immediately available to any tenant when they need to claim this”;

“Private Renters to Have Control Over Their Homes – Accessing Disabled Facilities Grants should be made simpler to ensure tenants can stay in their homes and get adaptations quickly, especially with the increasing number of elderly and disabled private tenants”;

“End Discrimination in Renting – End ‘Right to Rent’ and nationality requirements for social housing. There should be no immigration checks in licensing or enforcement regimes”;

“Renters Right to Organise – Renters have a right to join a union and must not face retaliatory action from landlords for doing so. Unions should be consulted proactively by the government, and given a seat at the table when making decisions that will affect renters”;

“Improve access to justice for private renters – Legal aid for housing cases should be restored and extended to cover legal costs challenging disrepair in court.”