Britain faces the biggest housing crisis in a generation with less than half the number of new homes we need being built. The Tory-led government refuses to do anything about it. Their record is shocking with house building now at the lowest level since the 1920s.
Labour’s candidate for the Bridgwater and West Somerset Constituency say’s he has spoken to many young people who have all but given up on their dreams of ever owning their own homes. While the flexibility of renting may suit some, others have been forced into the private rented sector as the only available option.
But it’s not just young people who are affected; in England nine million people are living in rented homes today, over a million families, and over two million children.
Cllr Mick Lerry said: “Families who are renting are often worried about the prospect that their rent could jump up by a big amount from one year to the next. Some also face being displaced if more workers move into the area. They want to be able to settle down, put down roots and have peace of mind”.
“If you buy your home, most estate agents will not charge you fees, but people in who rent are given no protection and they get charged £350 on average. That’s a lot of money for a lot of people and that’s why Labour will legislate to ban these rip-off charges by letting agents”.
Rip-Off charges by Letting Agents
Those who rent accommodation are now paying on average £1020 a year more in rent than they did in 2010. They face rip-off charges by letting agents, unpredictable jumps in their rent and insecure tenancies.
These problems affect too many people. That’s why we need to take action to reform the private rented sector so tenants and landlords can both get a fair deal.
Cllr Mick Lerry said: “While the Tory-led Government refuses to act, a Labour Government will give families the security of a longer tenancy and predictable rents to stop excessive rises so that they can manage tight family finances and plan ahead”.
The next Labour government will change the law to make three-year tenancies the norm and protect against excessive rent increases to give tenants the stability they deserve. And also take action to ban unfair letting agents’ fees for tenants, saving renters an average of £350 in costs.
The private rental market has changed and now the law has to as well. We won’t get the change we need under the Tories. Only Labour will improve the private rented sector to end the unfairness and make it work for working people in Bridgwater and West Somerset.
7th May 2012
Cllr Mick Lerry – Leader of the Labour Group on Sedgemoor District Council
Labour Parliamentary candidate for Bridgwater and West Somerset Constituency
Mobile 07775 905080
Email michael.lerry@btinternet.com
It’s a good start but doesn’t go far enough. Landlords who own multiple properties are holding tenants to ransom and there is a strong case for the restoration of proper rent controls which were abandoned by the thatcher government. At the same time there needs to be a huge council house building programme which could be paid for by putting up taxes on the better off. These homes cound then be rented at realistic prices so that tenants could have long term security. The cost of a home should be spread over the lifetime of the building and not over the lifetime of a tenant or owner occupier. To this end mortgages should be made transferrable and spread over say, 100 years or even more rather than 25 or 30. The need for homes is far more important than the profits of property speculators. and there needs to be tough action to prevent property speculators holding us to ransom and if necessary their profits should be subject to higher taxation.