Generation Rent says nearly half of tenants responding to a government survey are already spending less on food and essentials.

“While homeowners could be hit by rising rates, renters have it worse,” says the group.

It claims a third of renters reported that their rent had increased in the past six months and six percent of tenants are now in arrears.

Generation Rent is calling on the government to:

- Ban increases in rent for the duration of the cost-of-living crisis;

- Suspend the use of Section 21 evictions, where the landlord does not need a reason to evict, and Section 8 Ground 8 evictions, where tenants in more than two months of rent arrears cannot challenge an eviction;

- Unfreeze Local Housing Allowance so benefit claimants can pay the rent – rates are frozen at 2019-2020 levels;

- Restore Discretionary Housing Payment funding to 2020-21 levels, when £180m was available for renters struggling with housing costs;

- Reinstate the £20 per week Universal Credit uplift;

- Ban landlords from demanding multiple months’ rent upfront – a tactic used to deny benefit claimants a home;

Increase funds to clear tenants’ rent arrears from the £65m provided in October 2021.

Moz Stewart

Source: The UK Right 2 Rent Register

www.theukright2rentregister.org