Renters in Bristol are being urged to share their experiences to help the council lobby for extra powers. Bristol City Council chiefs are exploring options to make renting cheaper, which could include bringing in new rent controls.
The cost of renting has shot up dramatically in Bristol over the past few years, becoming increasingly unaffordable for many tenants. More than 18,000 households are waiting for social housing, in large part due to being unable to afford to rent homes privately.
Addressing the city’s housing crisis, Bristol City Council has set up a ‘Living Rent Commission’ to gather evidence of the problems and explore potential solutions, before asking the government to help. A new survey is asking renters to help provide this evidence.
Councillor Tom Renhard, cabinet member for housing, said: “In Bristol we face a housing crisis. We have more than 18,000 households on our waiting list for social housing, along with over 1,100 households in temporary accommodation. The cost of renting in this city is one key cause alongside the lack of security that renters have in the private rented sector. This is why we set up the Living Rent Commission.
“The powers needed to ensure the rental market is accessible and works for all do not exist. The powers come from government, so we want to work with Westminster on policy development to reform the private rented sector, enabling Bristol to become a Living Rent City.
“I would ask everyone with experience of renting in Bristol in the last five years to consider taking part in the survey. Your answers will help us to understand what renters are experiencing in the private rented sector in the city, and help inform the work of the commission.”
Last month, however, the Living Rent Commission was criticised by community union Acorn, which represents many renters across Bristol. The council did not include Acorn in its commission, leading to union members gathering outside City Hall. Acorn is writing its own ‘Real Renting Commission’ report, which will be published alongside the council's findings.
The council’s commission is aiming to improve affordability of the private rented sector; understand how regulation would impact rent prices, housing quality and maintenance; identify the most effective rent controls; consider what other powers are needed; and consider how to empower tenants’ rights.
The survey will run until Wednesday, November 2, and can be found here. Results will be analysed by researchers at the University of Bristol, and the commission’s final report will be published later this year. The report will respond to the renter’s reform white paper currently going through parliament.
Professor Alex Marsh, from the university and co-chair of the commission, said: “The commission is a great opportunity to bring people together to identify policy changes and innovative actions that will improve the city’s private rented sector. To do this we need a clear picture of tenants’ current experiences of private renting and the problems they’re facing. So we’re keen that as many tenants as possible complete our survey and tell us about their situation. All the information is being collected anonymously.”
