Oldham Liberal Democrats win council vote on fair deal for private renters

Plans set out by Oldham Liberal Democrats to strengthen protections for private renters in the borough were passed at a meeting of Oldham’s Full Council on Wednesday 1 November.

Oldham Liberal Democrat Leader councillor Howard Sykes MBE said the outcome of the debate was “welcome news for the increasing number of people across Oldham who rely on private rentals.  This is an important first step in getting to grips with what has become an unsafe and insecure sector for tenants.”

The Liberal Democrat motion called on Oldham Council to get tougher on rogue landlords by issuing improvement notices where living conditions are not good enough.  The Party also called for an end to Section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions as well as for more support to be made available when residents make legal challenges against landlords. 

This follows calls from leading housing charities across Greater Manchester for a ‘private renting emergency’, after the ending of a private rented tenancy became one of the leading causes of homelessness in the region.  The average cost of renting rose by 13% across Oldham in the last year alone.

Speaking in the council chamber, Liberal Democrat Housing spokesperson councillor Garth Harkness said, “The private rented sector has become like the Wild West.  I know of one family who have seen several rent increases in the last six months.”

Councillor Sykes also hit out at the Government over delays to the long-promised Private Renters Reform Bill stating, “If we’re going to wait for Westminster to step in, we’re going to be waiting a very long time.  Conservative MPs recently said it was ‘un-conservative’ to try to reform the private rented sector.”

Councillor Sykes said, “Of course, that will have nothing to do with the fact that so many of them are landlords themselves.”

Full Liberal Democrat Motion as amended and passed by Oldham Council:

This Council notes:

• The number of private renters in Oldham has grown significantly over the last decade
• There are more than 4.4 million UK residents who live in a private rented home
• In England, 1 in 8 private rented homes have at least one severe hazard, and 4% of private rented homes have an energy efficiency rating of F or G, meaning they are also illegal to rent out.
• The end of a private sector tenancy is one of the leading causes of homelessness.
• The Conservative Government has once again delayed a long-promised ban on Section 21 evictions, despite cross party support up and down the country.
• Black and minority ethnic households are more likely to experience poor housing outcomes including homelessness.
• Oldham Council has a statutory obligation to ensure that no private rented tenant is living in substandard accommodation
• Oldham Council are implementing a new IT system which will ensure that data is more readily available to officers for data analysis to inform policy making decisions.

This Council believes:

• Private renters should not have to live in homes that are damp, in a poor state of repair, overcrowded or unaffordable
• That data and communication resources at the Council’s disposal can be better used to engage with private renters
• More frequent events, such as the Landlord Forum held in November 2019, would offer an opportunity for all landlords operating in Oldham to meet and discuss the issues that affect them and their tenants
• That too little is known about people who face homelessness, whether they are evicted or are forced to leave their family or friends’ home, and this impedes efforts to prevent homelessness
• The Government should bring forward the legislation it pledged in December 2019 immediately so that tenants can no longer be evicted without a reason

This Council resolves to protect private renters by:

• Serving improvement notices on homes with severe hazards to invalidate Section 21 notices and enable Rent Repayment Orders if the landlord fails to comply
• Serving improvement notices for excess cold in homes that fail Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards
• Helping private renters claim back rent through rent repayment orders when they are eligible to do so
• Enforcing the ban on letting agent fees by issuing fines to criminal letting agents
• Taking action on overcrowded homes through licensing, increased inspections and a strategy for increasing the supply of homes for families and single adults
• Committing not to use landlord licensing to enforce immigration law
• Working more closely with the local police force to protect private renters from illegal evictions and appoint one person accountable for enforcing the Protection from Eviction Act
• Utilise data available to the council to breakdown homelessness cases arising from the private rented sector, and publishing this alongside other relevant data including ethnicity, reasons for homelessness and areas, to help inform policy making in the future
• Joining with Generation Rent, the national voice of private renters, and the Labour Party, in campaigning for the legislative change private renters need to live in safe, secure and affordable homes.
• Supporting Generation Rent’s campaign for a National Register of Landlords
• Support the plans of the next Labour Government to introduce a renters’ charter that will abolish ‘no fault’ Section 21 evictions, introduce a legally binding Decent Homes Standard for the private rented sector, ban landlords from refusing to rent to those in receipt of benefits or with children, provide for longer notice periods, introduce a national landlord register and introduce a right to have pets.
• Making sure the Council website has useful advice and information for private renters that is easy to find; makes it easier for private renters to understand how the council can help enforce their rights, sets reasonable expectations; and allows for checking if a privately rented home has a landlord licence
• Use all the available tools at the council’s disposal to engage with private renters, including the amazing work being done by the Doorstep Engagement Team

Oldham Liberal Democrats back calls for private renting emergency
Oldham Liberal Democrats back calls for private renting emergency – Howard Sykes (mycouncillor.org.uk)

More from Oldham Liberal Democrats on the private rented sector Oldham Liberal Democrats lead calls for new protections for private renters – Howard Sykes (mycouncillor.org.uk)

Oldham Liberal Democrats lead calls for new protections for private renters

Liberal Democrats councillors will set out new plans to protect private renters at a meeting of Oldham Council next week (01/11).  Saddleworth North representative and Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Housing councillor Garth Harkness said, “Private renting is becoming increasingly unaffordable and insecure in Oldham Borough.”

“The private rented sector is like the Wild West.  There aren’t enough regulations in place to crack down on cowboy landlords, poor quality living conditions and unfair evictions.  This also does not reward responsible landlords either.”

Councillor Harkness will move a motion in the council chamber next week (1/11/23) that calls on Oldham Council to get tougher on rogue landlords by issuing and enforcing improvement notices where conditions are unacceptable.  This includes issues with excess cold as well as damp and mould.   

According to the homelessness charity Crisis, the end of a private rented tenancy is now the leading cause of homelessness in England.

Earlier this month, several of Greater Manchester’s leading housing and homelessness charities came together to announce a new campaign declaring a “private renters’ emergency”.  Their campaign was supported by Oldham Liberal Democrat Leader councillor Howard Sykes MBE who will second the Liberal Democrat motion next week.  

Councillor Sykes said, “Wages are not keeping up with the rising cost of renting and this is already having devastating consequences for families in Oldham.  Urgent changes in the law are needed to give private renters more protections from runaway rents and poor-quality housing.  We also need to build more homes to rent!”

“But it’s not just about pointing the finger at the government.  Here in Oldham, we need the council to act proactively, to support residents when they are living in substandard homes, and to crack down on landlords when they aren’t meeting basic requirements.  The Liberal Democrats are setting out an action plan including the use of fines, improvement notices and licensing powers, that the council can use to ensure a fair deal for private renters.”  

Liberal Democrat Motion in full

Full Council 01/11/2023 – Notice of Opposition Business

Liberal Democrat Group Motion: A fair deal for private renters

Proposed by: councillor Garth Harkness. Seconded by: councillor Howard Sykes MBE

This Council notes:

• The number of private renters in Oldham has grown significantly over the last decade
• There are more than 4.4 million UK residents who live in a private rented home
• In England, 1 in 8 private rented homes have at least one severe hazard, and 4% of private rented homes have an energy efficiency rating of F or G, meaning they are also illegal to rent out.
• The end of a private sector tenancy is one of the leading causes of homelessness.
• Black and minority ethnic households are more likely to experience poor housing outcomes including homelessness.
• Oldham Council has a statutory obligation to ensure that no private rented tenant is living in substandard accommodation

This Council believes:

• Private renters should not have to live in homes that are damp, in a poor state of repair, overcrowded or unaffordable
• That data and communication resources at the Council’s disposal can be better used to engage with private renters
• More frequent events, such as the Landlord Forum held in November 2019, would offer an opportunity for all landlords operating in Oldham to meet and discuss the issues that affect them and their tenants
• That too little is known about people who face homelessness, whether they are evicted or are forced to leave their family or friends’ home, and this impedes efforts to prevent homelessness
• The Government should bring forward the legislation it pledged in December 2019 immediately so that tenants can no longer be evicted without a reason

This Council resolves to protect private renters by:

• Serving improvement notices on homes with severe hazards to invalidate Section 21 notices and enable Rent Repayment Orders if the landlord fails to comply
• Serving improvement notices for excess cold in homes that fail Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards
• Helping private renters claim back rent through rent repayment orders when they are eligible to do so
• Enforcing the ban on letting agent fees by issuing fines to criminal letting agents
• Taking action on overcrowded homes through licensing, increased inspections and a strategy for increasing the supply of homes for families and single adults
• Committing not to use landlord licensing to enforce immigration law
• Working more closely with the local police force to protect private renters from illegal evictions and appoint one person accountable for enforcing the Protection from Eviction Act
• Publishing the breakdown of homelessness cases arising from the private rented sector by ethnicity
• Recording and publish the tenure breakdown of homelessness cases, in particular those arising from family/friends being unable to house someone
• Joining with Generation Rent, the national voice of private renters, in campaigning for the legislative change private renters need to live in safe, secure and affordable homes.
• Supporting Generation Rent’s campaign for a National Register of Landlords
• Making sure the Council website has useful advice and information for private renters that is easy to find; makes it easier for private renters to understand how the council can help enforce their rights, sets reasonable expectations; and allows for checking if a privately rented home has a landlord licence using Landlord Licensing, Council Tax, Energy Performance Certificate & Tenancy Deposit data to identify private rented homes to communicate directly with private renters

For more information click on this link below:

Sykes joins health expert calls for private rent reforms

Leader of Oldham Liberal Democrats councillor Howard Sykes MBE has backed calls of leading health experts demanding new reforms of the private rented sector.  Directors of public health across the country have welcomed new measures aimed at improving social housing standards but called for more action to tackle poor conditions in the private rented sector. 

Councillor Sykes said, “The consequences of poor-quality housing have been made clear in recent years.  Damp and mould kills.  It is always children and the elderly who are hit hardest.”

“The problem is not just limited to social housing.  Too many people who rent privately are exposed to shameful conditions and it has got to improve.” 

New laws came into effect earlier this month (Apr) which now mean social housing landlords will be ‘routinely inspected and held to account’ to ensure they provide residents with quality homes and services.

Councillor Sykes said, “Tough new rules for the social rented sector are very welcome.  But for private renters, there are little to no protections in place.  People deserve safe homes.  And if we get this right, we can prevent people from getting sick and ending up in our struggling hospitals.”

At a meeting of Oldham Council in November last year, Oldham Liberal Democrats won a vote on proposals to ‘get tough’ on private landlords. 

Councillor Sykes said, “After a Liberal Democrat motion was passed last year, it is now Oldham Council policy to serve improvement notices to landlords where they are failing to deal with hazards like damp and mould or to meet energy efficiency standards.”   

Notes

Public Health Directors across the UK call for private rent reform (Apr 2024)

Public health directors call for better regulation of private rented sector | LocalGov

More on the Liberal Democrats private renters motion (Nov 2023)
Search Results for “private renters” – Howard Sykes (mycouncillor.org.uk)

Oldham Liberal Democrats back calls for private renting emergency

Liberal Democrat councillors in Oldham have joined leading Greater Manchester housing charities in declaring a “private rent emergency” across the region. 

Oldham Liberal Democrat Leader and Shaw representative councillor Howard Sykes MBE said, “The cost of renting in Oldham is rising at an unsustainable rate.  In September last year the average rented property in Oldham cost £670 per month.  This year the average price is £834 per month.  And in some parts of our Borough, rents are climbing far higher.”  

Greater Manchester has some of the highest homelessness figures in the UK.  Leading housing charities Shelter, Stepping Stone Projects, Mustard Tree and The Booth Centre have launched the new ‘Greater Manchester Private Rent Emergency’ campaign – arguing that spiralling rents and the cost-of-living crisis are pushing more and more people into poverty. 

Councillor Sykes said, “Wages are not keeping up with the rising cost of renting and this is already having devastating consequences for families in Oldham.  Urgent changes in the law are needed to give private renters more protections from runaway rents and poor-quality housing.”

NOTES

Mustard Tree statement on launch of new campaign
Mustard Tree | “Greater Manchester Private Rent Emergency” declared by leading charities – Mustard Tree

Information on the cost of renting in Oldham (2023)

Home.co.uk: Oldham Market Rent Summary

Information on the cost of renting in Oldham (2022)
Oldham Rental Market | Stats & Graphs (varbes.com)

A £40 million cut in support for renters – to below pre-pandemic levels – is likely to drive up homelessness rates across the borough, warns Shadow Cabinet member for Housing Sam Al-Hamdani.

The cuts to discretionary housing payments provide support to people claiming housing benefit or universal credit who face rent shortfalls, or for assistance with deposits. They are to be cut by 22%, in a change which was put through without attention being drawn to it in the spring budget.

Local Liberal Democrat Councillor Sam Al-Hamdani said: “So many people have spent the last year trying to manage in extraordinary circumstances. People’s jobs are at risk, and the last thing we need is for people to have emergency support withdrawn.

“The Government’s own figures show that three times as many private renters are behind on their payments as before coronavirus, and that as many again thought that they would fall behind in the next six months.”

The furlough scheme is due to end in September, and a ban on evictions during Covid was recently ended.

He continued: “Oldham is again likely to bear the brunt of this change. We have more people in tenuous accommodation, in precarious jobs, and who have borne the brunt of the pandemic’s impact.

“Once again, it is a decision taken by the Conservative Government in Westminster with little or no thought on the impact it will have on towns like ours.”