On Monday, Bristol Charities attended a briefing on the Renters Rights Act, hosted at City Hall by Caring in Bristol and Housing Matters.
We are proud to be a social landlord, with residents of our almshouse accommodation paying affordable rents and living safely in quality homes. For many in Bristol though, their housing situation is not secure.
Many people renting their homes privately are living with uncertainty: not knowing whether their rent is going to be increased to an unaffordable level, or living constantly with the knowledge that they could receive notice on their tenancy through no fault of their own. In the worst cases, families may be living in homes that are in such a state of disrepair that it is damaging to their health, yet they fear raising this with their landlord because of the possible repercussions.
For families in the city, the effects of our housing market are profound. With average rents significantly above the national average, Bristol is an unaffordable place to live for many. A lack of security in one’s home makes it hard for families to put down roots and establish that sense of permanence and belonging that is so important if children and parents are to thrive at school and at work.
As a charity committed to strengthening and investing in our communities, we are acutely aware that this impact on families has knock-on impacts for stable communities, which rely on strong relationships between people who feel they have a long-term stake in their home and surrounding area.
The Renters Rights Act will bring some welcome changes for renters in our city: an end to Section 21 notices or ‘no fault evictions’, greater controls and accountability around rent increases for landlords, and landlords no longer able to refuse to let to a household because they are on benefits. Bristol’s housing crisis is too deeply entrenched to be ended by any single piece of legislation, however it is a step in the right direction.
Many of the families using our community services and foodbanks are experiencing severe housing challenges. Attending this event helps us ensure that we are giving them access to the support and advice that they need to feel more secure in their homes.
We want to offer our thanks to all the organisations involved in staging this event, and we are particularly looking forward to working more closely with Housing Matters and Caring in Bristol in the future.
