Teresa has backed plans announced by Labour today for a better deal for those renting their homes privately.
Teresa has been a strong advocate for the tightening of regulations across the private rented sector since her election. This announcement comes following the Westminster Hall Debate she led on Housing in London in February this year, during which she specifically highlighted this problem, and the urgency with which the needs of private renters needed to be addressed.
One of the biggest causes of the cost of living crisis in our country is the price of renting or buying a home. That’s why a Labour government will make sure that Britain builds 200,000 more homes a year by the end of the next Parliament, so that more families can fulfil their dream of home ownership.
Nine million people are living in rented homes today, over a million families, and over two million children. With tenants in Erith & Thamesmead facing rip-off fees from lettings agents and insecure tenancies, Labour has announced the biggest change in a generation to make the system fairer for renters.
The next Labour government will ban letting agents’ fees for tenants, saving renters on average £350 in costs, and will legislate to make three-year tenancies the standard in the British private rented sector to give people who rent the certainty they need.
Teresa said:
“Regulation of the private rented sector is long overdue, and this was why I highlighted this problem at the Westminster Hall Debate I led on Housing in London earlier this year.
Families who are renting across Erith & Thamesmead are often worried about the prospect of their rent being increased by a large amount from one year to the next, or that they may be evicted at short notice, just as they have started to feel comfortable. They want to be able to settle down, put down roots, and have peace of mind.
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.
If you buy your home, most estate agents will not charge you fees, but people in my constituency 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.
The importance of secure accommodation for a stable family life should not be underestimated, and these changes should help private renters across my constituency to make their houses their homes.”
