Shelter's response to Jeremy Corbyn's speech on housing
Posted 27 Sep 2017
Polly Neate, Shelter CEO, said: “There is a growing debate about the crisis facing those who rent, with families facing rising bills and insecure lets. Shelter supports controls that lengthen tenancies and protect families from unfair rent rises but not old fashioned rent-setting which we think could end up harming the very people on low incomes they’re meant to help, if and when landlords sell their properties.
“After the horrific tragedy of the Grenfell fire we believe it is absolutely essential to listen to tenants in a meaningful way and we hope the Labour Party will deliver on their promise to do so."
Notes to editors:
Shelter blog for additional context here: http://blog.shelter.org.uk/2017/09/old-fashioned-rent-control-what-is-it-good-for/
Stats pack:
1 in 5 households rent privately
The proportion of those aged 25 to 34 who lived in the private rented sector increased from 24% in 2005-06 to 46% in 2015-16 (English Housing Survey)
Renter spend on average 41% of their household income (excluding housing benefit) on rent. In comparison, people with a mortgage spend just 18% of their weekly income on mortgage costs (English Housing Survey)
On average, renters spend more per week on their housing than any other household – average of £184 per week (English Housing Survey)
The loss of a private tenancy is the single leading cause of homelessness (DCLG live stables on homelessness)
Housing benefit for private renters has been cut every year since 2011. The National Audit Office has identified this as one of the factors behind the recent rise in homelessness.
1.2 million households claim Local Housing Allowance.