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Labour plans to give tenants more power | Labour plans to give tenants more power |
(about 17 hours later) | |
Labour says it would scrap laws allowing private landlords to evict tenants without giving a reason. | Labour says it would scrap laws allowing private landlords to evict tenants without giving a reason. |
The law, in force since 1988, is thought to be the biggest cause of homelessness. | The law, in force since 1988, is thought to be the biggest cause of homelessness. |
Labour's shadow housing minister John Healey announced the policy at the party's conference in Liverpool. | |
Mr Healey also unveiled plans for a £20m fund to set up "renters' unions" to support tenants in disputes with landlords. | |
So-called "no-fault" evictions - when landlords throw people out of their home without saying why - have been growing in recent years. | So-called "no-fault" evictions - when landlords throw people out of their home without saying why - have been growing in recent years. |
Research by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation and the Cambridge Centre for Housing and Planning Research found 80% of private-sector evictions in 2015 fell into this category. | Research by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation and the Cambridge Centre for Housing and Planning Research found 80% of private-sector evictions in 2015 fell into this category. |
Before Section 21 of the 1988 Housing Act came into force it was more difficult for landlords to evict people who paid rent on time. | |
The government has announced plans increase security for tenants in the private rented sector, who now number about 11.5 million people, including minimum tenancies of three years. | |
But Labour says it would go further if it gained power. | But Labour says it would go further if it gained power. |
The party's policies include: | The party's policies include: |
In his speech to the Labour faithful in Liverpool, Mr Healey said: "Tenants who rent from private landlords have been hit hard by the housing crisis. | |
"Labour's commitment is clear: we'll give renters new rights to control rental costs, improve conditions and increase security. | "Labour's commitment is clear: we'll give renters new rights to control rental costs, improve conditions and increase security. |
"Renters' unions help put power in the hands of tenants. | "Renters' unions help put power in the hands of tenants. |
"And the next Labour government will fund set-up costs for these unions across the country to support renters to defend their rights, and make the housing market fairer." | "And the next Labour government will fund set-up costs for these unions across the country to support renters to defend their rights, and make the housing market fairer." |
In response, Conservative Housing Secretary James Brokenshire said the costs of a new union for tenants would fall on "hard-pressed renters". |
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