Punctuation; silent intonation
The Conservative manifesto of November 2019 promised to bring forward a Renters’ Reform Bill. But on 17 May 2023, the Renters (Reform) Bill was introduced. Parentheses (brackets) indicate either an afterthought or explanation and work for us in the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018. But at Renters’ Rights London, the possessive apostrophe really matters. That apostrophe gives us collective and common ownership of our housing rights. Without it, we have the numbers but no “enjoyment”. The devil’s in the detail, as it were.
This draft Bill seeks to omit assured shorthold tenancies and in so doing, to abolish evictions under section 21, as promised. But this Bill also proposes some new ‘no fault’ grounds which could undermine the pledge “to protect tenants” made in the Queen’s Speech of December 2019. And many organisations fear that clauses on “anti-social behaviour” will be used in a discriminatory way, if passed into law.
It’s not all bad. Detailed plans for the Private Rented Sector Database, containing up-to-date details of every rented home and the landlord of that home, are welcome. And the possibility that landlords will be required to join a redress scheme looks good, too.
At First Reading, the Renters (Reform) Bill falls short of what was promised. But the journey between here and Royal Assent, where the Bill becomes law, is a long one. There’s still time to amend this legislation and “deliver a fairer, better quality and more affordable private rental market”.
Call for Evidence on “sex for rent”
The government is considering creating a new law to explicitly outlaw so-called “sex for rent” and has issued a call for evidence. But there is opposition to the proposal.
The English Collective of Prostitutes (ECP) opposes legislation to outlaw “sex for rent” because:
- If a landlord harasses, threatens or coerces any tenant into sex, this is an offence and should be prosecuted under existing criminal laws.
- It will do nothing to address the housing crisis or help tenants deal with exploitative and abusive landlords
- It will curtail women’s housing options, pushing women further into housing precarity and homelessness.
“Many in the ECP were in the situation of providing sex in exchange for low or no rent before, during and after we were also sex workers. For us, the crucial issue is consent. If women want to respond to an advert and enter into this arrangement, that’s up to them. If the landlord is coercive, exploitative, threatening or violent, and therefore committing a criminal offence, he should be prosecuted.
There is a massive housing crisis in the UK exacerbated by the cost-of-living crisis, rising poverty, low wages, lack of social housing and property being used for speculation and profiteering rather than to accommodate people.
Over 6.5 million people are living in substandard housing. Tenants lack the rights they need to stand up to abusive landlords. Women’s homelessness is particularly hidden. Women make up 60% of people in temporary accommodation and numbers have almost doubled over the past decade. Migrant and trans women and people of colour, along with mothers and people with disabilities in particular find rents unaffordable and face severe discrimination in the housing market. Almost one in three single mothers (321,000) are in rent arrears or constantly struggling to keep a roof over their heads. 25% of UK trans people have been homeless at some point.
The new Renters (Reform) Bill may help but clauses on anti-social behaviour therein are likely to be used in a discriminatory way.”
Women Against Rape also oppose new “sex for rent” laws and comment:
“The government should address the poverty and homelessness that make it harder for women (sex workers or not) to have the power to refuse any unwanted sex. Its claims to be protecting women from abusive landlords ring hollow when the rape and other violence women actually report is more often than not dismissed and deprioritised.”
Any legislation outlawing “sex for rent” will be an occasion for increased surveillance against sex workers. Sex workers face high levels of homelessness and are discriminated against in the housing market. Most sex workers are mothers which compounds that discrimination. One young mother living in communal housing – the only rent she could afford – was questioned by police who falsely claimed the housing was unsafe and threatened to take her child if she didn’t move.
The ECP is part of the coalition Hookers Against Hardship whose demands for rent controls, a moratorium on evictions, decriminalisation of sex work, an end to benefits sanctions, and access to living wage benefits for all, would, if implemented, help address the housing crisis as well as reduce stigma and discrimination against sex workers.
The deadline for submissions is 30 June 2023
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