Dishonest landlords and agents are again charging banned fees, five years after the Tenant Fees Act came into effect. Don’t let them get away with it and please know that you cannot be evicted via the section 21 procedure until the landlord/their agent has repaid any fee charged unlawfully. Shout out to renters in Barking & Dagenham; Hammersmith & Fulham; and a bit about brilliant barrister Nick Bano’s book, Against Landlords: How To Solve the Housing Crisis.
Lewisham, Wandsworth, you, MEES and EPCs ++
Help with energy bills; progress of the Renters (Reform) Bill; what do you think about council housing? ++
Did you know that you can get free, impartial energy advice, tailored to your situation, from Energy Advice London, funded by the Mayor of London? And MP Matt Western would like to know what you think about council housing. There’s news of progress of the Renters (Reform) Bill; the campaign for Healthy Homes; and Asset Arrest, Laura Yuile’s exploration of how financialised housing affects us
Repossession, References and Enchanted Lands
Repossessions of mortgaged properties have increased this year. That’s not your problem unless it’s your home that’s being repossessed. It can happen, unfortunately, even if you pay the rent on time. And finding a new place to live is not easy.
So, it’s grim. But it’s not ALL grim. There’s also a portal to half an hour of magic in Enchanted Lands.
Data breaches and break clauses
You might be glad to see a break clause in your tenancy agreement but remember that it works both ways; landlords can use them, too.
When an agent or a landlord collects your email address, they should provide you with a Privacy Notice. This is your “right to be informed”. It’s just one of your rights under the Data Protection Act 2018 . There are more but we know that not all landlords comply.
Renters (Reform) Bill and a Call for Evidence
The Renters (Reform) Bill has been introduced. It includes measures to end evictions under section 21 but it’s not quite the Renters’ Reform Bill we were promised. And as government is also considering a new law to outlaw so-called “sex for rent”, we’re sharing an Action Alert from the English Collective of Prostitutes.
It’s all about paying the rent
Deposit protection and damages; join the Renters’ Day of Action; work with Just Space; Voter ID – new rules
New right to carbon monoxide alarms; help with high living costs; invalid s.21 notice
Healthy Homes, Holiday Homes, Equality Trust
Housing underpins health, for good or ill. And the Healthy Homes Bill had its second reading in the House of Lords on 15 July. Championed by the Town and Country Planning Association and Lord Crisp, former Chief Executive of the NHS, the Bill establishes a benchmark for what we could and should have in new homes. But why wait? Local authorities could include many of the key elements in their planning codes now. This is vitally important to protect our health, wellbeing and safety. Find out more about the Healthy Homes Bill and PLEASE sign up to support the campaign
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