Acorn, the prominent tenants’ rights organization, has launched a campaign urging renters to reach out to their Members of Parliament in support of amendments to the Renters’ Rights Bill, currently under debate. The group asserts that while the bill is a step in the right direction, it falls short of providing the robust protections that renters across the country need.

In a public statement, Acorn emphasized the importance of a stronger bill, stating, “The Renters’ Rights Bill in its current form is a great start, but if it’s going to deliver the change we really need, it must be made stronger! Email your MP to fight for amendments to the bill!”

According to a briefing paper issued by the group, Acorn members voted on key policy areas to identify five priority amendments they believe should be incorporated into the bill as it progresses. These demands reflect the group’s commitment to ensuring safe, fair, and affordable housing for renters nationwide, while still endorsing other measures already included in the legislation.

Key Demands for Bill Amendments

Acorn’s proposed amendments include a range of measures aimed at protecting renters from unsafe conditions, financial strain, and unlawful eviction practices:

1. Ending Illegal Evictions: Acorn calls for a mandate on local councils to prioritize prosecutions of landlords who carry out illegal evictions.
2. Supporting Landlord Licensing Schemes: The organization seeks to eliminate bureaucratic obstacles that, they argue, hinder councils from enforcing schemes intended to improve housing conditions.
3. Right to Withhold Rent for Unsafe Conditions: Acorn argues for tenants to have the right to withhold rent when landlords fail to address serious disrepair issues that could pose health or safety risks.
4. Capping Rent in Advance: The campaign seeks limits on rent demands made in advance, noting that low-income renters and benefits claimants often struggle with the upfront cost of multiple months’ rent.
5. Making Renting Affordable: By instituting rent caps, Acorn hopes to prevent so-called “economic evictions,” where rising rents force tenants out of their homes.

These demands come amid growing concerns about the financial burden faced by renters, with one in four currently spending over half of their income on rent, according to Acorn’s research.

Pushback from Landlords

Not all are in agreement with Acorn’s proposed changes. Nottingham landlord Mick Roberts, a prominent voice for landlords housing benefits recipients, warns that the organization’s demands could lead to landlords withdrawing from the market altogether. “Acorn, the renters’ union, wants to make renting impossible,” he stated. “They want legislation that would discourage landlords from providing housing at all.”

Roberts highlighted concerns over affordability and the complexity of managing properties under strict regulation, arguing that many landlords, faced with rising rules and restrictions, may seek easier investment alternatives. “Why go through all the hassle when you could invest elsewhere?” he added.

Additional Policy Proposals

In addition to its primary demands, Acorn has outlined further policy considerations to strengthen protections within the bill:

• No-Fault Eviction Compensation: Tenants facing no-fault evictions would be exempt from paying rent during the last two months of their tenancy.
• Extended Protection Period: A proposed two-year protection period would shield renters from no-fault evictions.
• Judicial Discretion in Eviction Cases: Courts would have greater discretion to evaluate individual circumstances, potentially allowing delays or cancellations of evictions.
• Enhanced Local Authority Enforcement: Acorn suggests earmarking government funds for local authorities to improve enforcement of rental standards.
• Guarantor Restrictions: To reduce financial burdens, landlords would face limitations on guarantor requirements, particularly if they already hold insurance for non-payment of rent.
• Strengthened Protections Against Discrimination: The group advocates abolishing the Right to Rent scheme and introducing legal obligations for landlords to accommodate disabled tenants’ needs under the Disabled Facilities Grant.

As Acorn’s campaign gains momentum, supporters hope that their lobbying efforts will resonate with MPs and lead to significant changes in the bill. However, as landlords voice their opposition, the future of the Renters’ Rights Bill remains uncertain, and both sides are closely watching parliamentary developments in the weeks to come.