A report from the housing campaign, Crisis, in collaboration with Herior-Watt University and the UK Collaborative Centre for Housing Evidence indicates that around a third of housing associations surveyed said pre-tenancy affordability checks determined that the applicant would not be given a tenancy due to “too low an income or insecure finances”. According to Crisis … Continue reading Too poor for council or housing association homes
Category: Rent
Older people and above inflation rent increases
Our campaign was invited to speak at a recent meeting of the National Pensioners Convention; Gloucester, Avon & Somerset region. They agreed to support our Statement against 10 years of above inflation rent increases and 'rent convergence', and have written to the national NPC asking them to support the campaign. With the 'triple lock' much … Continue reading Older people and above inflation rent increases
No to 10 years of above inflation rent increases
The government is implementing a policy of 10 years of above inflation rent increases (CPI+1%) for council and housing association tenants. In addition it is reintroducing 'rent convergence' (see our Briefing: Why we oppose 'rent convergence'), originally introduced by New Labour to drive up council rents to housing association levels. The consultation on 'rent convergence' … Continue reading No to 10 years of above inflation rent increases
Briefing: why we oppose ‘rent convergence’
The government is consulting on “How to implement social rent convergence”. We explain what convergence is and why we are opposed to it. Rent convergence was a policy introduced by John Prescott in 2002. Council housing and housing association rents were to be brought into alignment over 10 years. As the House of Commons Library … Continue reading Briefing: why we oppose ‘rent convergence’
There can be no resolution of the housing crisis without a break from austerity
A debate in the Labour Party on the need for a fundamental change of direction by the government, has broken out in public The recent disastrous Parliamentary by-election and local election results have opened up an unprecedented debate in public, in the Labour Party, as Labour MPs have broken cover. South Shields Labour MP Emma … Continue reading There can be no resolution of the housing crisis without a break from austerity
Above inflation rent increase won’t resolve the council housing financial crisis
Rather than proposing to increase the financial pressure on tenants with above inflation rent increases, councils should be seeking the support of tenants in a campaign for the government to fund HRAs sufficiently to maintain and improve existing homes. Support for the government's proposal for 5 years of above inflation rent increases for council and … Continue reading Above inflation rent increase won’t resolve the council housing financial crisis
Government rent consultation: NO to above inflation rent increases
The government is consulting on a rent policy of 5 years or more of above inflation rent increases of a maximum of CPI+1%, for council and housing association tenants. We explain below why we are opposed to this proposal. The premise of the consultation document seems to be that above inflation rent increases for five … Continue reading Government rent consultation: NO to above inflation rent increases
Tell the government NO to above inflation rent increases
The government is consulting on the introduction of a new rent policy from April 2026. It runs until 11.45 p.m. On December 23rd. The government is consulting on rent policy for council and housing association homes for 2025/26. It is proposing that a rent formula of a maximum of CPI+1% for 5 years be introduced, … Continue reading Tell the government NO to above inflation rent increases
Labour should end above inflation rent increases
Media Release August 21st 2024 The Labour Campaign for Council Housing notes with alarm the report in the Financial Times that Rachel Reeves is proposing to continue with the Tory government rent formula of CPI+1%; that is 10 years of above inflation rent increases for council and housing association tenants. The idea that this will … Continue reading Labour should end above inflation rent increases
Social tenants will be left out in the cold when Scotland’s rent freeze ends
Writing in Inside Housing, Caroline Crawley, National Committee member of Living Rent (a renters union in Scotland) says that the ending of the Rent Freeze at the end of March “spells disaster for Living Rent’s members and all social housing tenants”. “Our members believe that the government’s decision displays a disregard for social housing tenants … Continue reading Social tenants will be left out in the cold when Scotland’s rent freeze ends
Labour Campaign for Council Housing 