Renters face having to pay to problem rip-off lease will increase
The Renter’s Reform Coalition (RCC), an alliance of 18 leading housing and renters’ organisations, has written to the Housing minister raising concerns over plans to introduce a fee to access rent tribunals
Renters hit with rip-off rent increases face having to pay to appeal against them(Image: Getty Images)
Renters hit with rip-off rent increases face having to pay to appeal against them.
The Renter’s Reform Coalition (RCC), an alliance of 18 leading housing and renters’ organisations, has written to Housing minister Matthew Pennycook raising concerns over plans to introduce a fee to access rent tribunals.
The RCC warn the tribunals will be the only way tenants can appeal against high rent increases, which landlords could then use as an excuse to force renters out or threaten them.
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With section 21 no fault evictions being abolished on 1 May, campaigners say they are concerned that any barriers to challenging rent increases will enable landlords to use rent hikes as a “backdoor” section 21, resulting in tenants forced out in economic evictions. Rents in England have already increased by over 32% in the past five years and now average £1,423 per month, with 4.4 million private renters in poverty.
Polling of renters by Generation Rent suggests that fees would discourage renters from challenging a steep rent increase of £200 per month – an increase of 14% on the average rent in England. 9 in 10 of those surveyed said they would challenge the increase if tribunals were free, but only half said they would still do so if forced to pay a fee of £200.
Clara Collingwood, Director at the Renters’ Reform Coalition, said: “This government promised that they would protect renters from no fault evictions, and ’empower renters’ to challenge unfair rent increases. Introducing a fee that tenants will have to pay to access rent tribunals would make it easier for rogue landlords to threaten tenants with steep rent hikes, or evict them by raising rents beyond what is affordable.
“And it will be renters on lower incomes – many of whom already struggle to cover bills and afford groceries due to the cost of their rent – who will be least able to afford to challenge an increase, and most exposed to economic eviction. These fees risk undermining security for millions of renters, and the most vulnerable of renters in particular, by opening a loophole in the Renters’ Rights Act – the government must reconsider.”
A Government spokesperson said: “We always keep courts and tribunal fees under review and are currently assessing the introduction of fees in line with practice across the courts and tribunals.”
