A new activist group claims tenants are working to provide “fancy cars and holidays” for “parasite” landlords who are “leeching” off renters.
A spokesperson for the new Oxford Renters Union has contributed to local news website This Is Oxfordshire.
Remaining anonymous and being referred to only as “Maisie W” the spokesperson says: “Why should landlords get yet another pay rise by leeching off of my hard work?
“Why am I paying for my parasite landlords’ fancy cars and holidays when I can’t afford to have either?
“Housing should be a human right, and not a commodity. That’s why we’re asking you to resist your next rent increase.
“Resist on principal [sic]. Resist for yourself, and for the others in your community who can barely afford to live.”
The union’s website states: “We are a member-led, Oxford-based renters union that puts renters’ needs first.
“We are funded by and run by our members.
“We take decisions collectively and democratically, and everyone’s view is as important as anyone else’s.”
Average monthly private rent in England in the year to March rise 3.4% to £1,434, says the Office of National Statistics.
Oxford’s average rent is the highest outside London at £1,952, up 6.9% in the past 12 months.
The activist group – which says it’s operating against “the property-owning class” – promises action on three fronts.
These are:
Eviction defences — “Preventing people from being removed from their homes using our strength in numbers”;
Targeting rogue estate agents — “Protesting, picketing and generally making a nuisance at rogue estate agents to make their work more difficult until they meet our demands”; and
Council campaigns — “Longer-term projects will focus on winning legislative change from the council to better protect renters in Oxford.”
