The assertion that democracy inherently disadvantages tenants compared to landlords is one of the more surprising claims from Generation Rent activists. Dan Wilson Craw, the deputy chief executive of Generation Rent, has voiced concerns over this perceived inequality, suggesting that the transient nature of renting contributes to a significant disadvantage for tenants in the electoral process.
“Private renters are at a disadvantage in the electoral system. Short tenancies and frequent moves mean it is easy for private renters to inadvertently drop off the electoral register between elections,” Craw stated. His analysis indicates that a staggering 70% of private renters have relocated since 2019. Furthermore, data from the British Election Study in May 2023 revealed that 6.7% of private renters are not registered to vote at all.
The 2023 survey also highlighted that 8.1% of private renters were registered at a different address than their current one, equating to approximately 548,000 voters. Craw emphasizes that this mobility among renters leads to significant drops in voter registration, particularly in areas with high populations of private renters.
According to Generation Rent’s analysis, the electoral register in constituencies where private renters make up 25% or more of the population has decreased by an average of 5.4% since the 2019 General Election. In contrast, constituencies with less than 25% of private renters have seen a smaller average decline of 1.6% in voter registration.
“With the housing crisis raging, the election is a huge opportunity for renters to use our democratic voice to call for better renting,” Craw continued. “But renters are at a disadvantage compared with landlords, as frequent moves make it easier for us to fall off the register and miss out on voting. We have a few weeks left to decide who gets our vote, but we will miss this opportunity if we don’t have a ballot paper on 4 July.”
Generation Rent claims their figures are based on passport, age, and tenure data from the Census. They assumed eligibility to vote for those over 18 who either do not have a passport, or hold UK, Irish, or Commonwealth passports.
While Craw’s points highlight real challenges, the coherence and practicality of the solutions proposed by Generation Rent are up for debate. Is the issue of voter registration among renters a sign of a deeper democratic inequality, or are the activists overstating their case? As the debate continues, it remains to be seen whether Generation Rent can present a clear and compelling argument to drive meaningful change.