Renters in Liverpool are living in fear due to the threat of eviction, according to a group representing private tenants in the city.
ACORN is a tenants union which operates across the country. Tom Preston, a spokesperson for its Liverpool branch, was speaking after the Renters Reform Bill was delayed because of “procedural issues”.
One of the bills' proposals was to bring an end to Section 21 notices, which allows landlords to evict tenants without providing justification. It also advocated for an online property portal, a register of sorts in which tenants and local councils could access information about landlords.
READ MORE: Order your 48-page Eurovision souvenir guide from our online shop
Mr Preston, a 28 year-old living in Toxteth, said: “The Renters Reform Bill could addressed the massive power imbalance between landlords and tenants, which is seen in Liverpool and elsewhere." According to Preston, the threat of Section 21 notices deters renters from challenging their landlord.
He added: “There does seem to be a fear among tenants when we speak to them of ‘I don’t want to kick off too much because the landlord can just evict me’. We work to overcome that and show that isn’t necessarily the case, but ending Section 21 would be the best way to help.”
He added: “The threat of eviction is used as a way of keeping tenants from demanding what is acceptable. We deal with stuff not being fixed, even when they move in. We’ve had houses not being habitable with leaks and mould when renters have moved in, and landlords have still charged rent - we’ve had to get that money back off them.”
Mr Preston did say that Liverpool City Council has acted on some of these issues, citing the council’s Landlord Licensing scheme. However, he maintained that the council, and the government, needed to do more.
Mr Preston said: “Liverpool does have some positive elements in how it deals with the rental sector but it’s still not anywhere near what we would describe as acceptable. We still encounter so many problems, though the landlord licensing scheme is positive.”
Sarah Doyle, Liverpool City Council’s Cabinet Member for Housing, told the ECHO she was “disappointed” that the bill had been delayed. She said: “We all know that these ‘procedural issues’ are down to the Tories wanting to protect landlords rather than properly support tenants rights."
She added: “We needed the Renters Reform Bill four years ago. Everyday as Cabinet Member for Housing, I work with growing numbers of people being served Section 21 notices, dealing with rent increases and not being able to access a home because of income discrimination. Too many of our residents are taken advantage of by unscrupulous landlords and there needs to be a resetting of the relationship - tenants need more enforceable rights.”
Cllr Doyle also issued a defence of the council’s Landlord Licensing scheme but said it could be improved with further government support. She said: “We are doing what we can through our Landlord Licensing scheme and the new intelligence led enforcement scheme which the Government has funded but this needs backing up with water tight legislation.”
She added: “If the government wants to seriously tackle homelessness, poverty and health issues they will bring this bill forward urgently and build upon it with a wider housing policy programme that includes rent controls and council house building.”
Commenting on the bill, the National Residential Landlords Association has said it is working with the Government to ensure any reforms are “fair and workable for both landlords and tenants”. It has argued that tackling “lengthy waits” in courts to repossess properties should be tackled before the removal of Section 21.
The NRLA have also called for the abolishing of local licensing schemes if an online portal were to be enacted. Commenting on Liverpool City Council’s licensing scheme last December, they claimed it was a “waste of time” as it would take almost 150 years to process all the applications.
Ben Beadle, Chief Executive of the NRLA, said: “If Liverpool Council really believes licensing is so key to ensuring properties are safe, it begs the question why it takes so long to process applications for them."
He added: "Rather than penalising good landlords with a blanket policy, the Council should use the range of data already available to them to find and root out the minority of landlords who fail to provide safe housing.”
Life through a new lens. We are Curiously. Follow us on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
READ NEXT:
Primark shoppers praise 'gorgeous' £20 dress that's 'perfection'
I visited a lunch spot loved by Peaky Blinders stars Tom Hardy and Charlotte Riley
The family day out an hour away from Liverpool with curling and crazy golf
Musician's 'fear-driven' journey from TikTok comedy sketches to Sound City star
