Trade Union Calls For Council Regulation of Private Landlords

A trade union is calling on councils across the sector to enforce standards in the private rented sector by regulating landlords. Spurred on by the growth of amateur landlords in the sector, courtesy of Buy-to-Let, the GMB union said councils must be required to set up systems of regulation of private landlords. The union said that councils should set up a register of private landlords, and the condition of registration should require minimum standards for length of tenure, terms of contract, safety, the condition and energy efficiency of rented accommodation. This should include “at least reserve powers to intervene to impose fair rent levels”.  Read more on the Housing Excellence website.

Union Backs Week of Action against Council House Sell-Offs

A trade union has given its backing to a week of action intended to oppose the “destruction” of London’s council housing stock. Unite has accused the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, of making the capital’s housing crisis worse. On his watch, the union said “the story has been one of ‘affordable homes’ that few can afford, a growing number of evictions and the destruction of communities”. The stated aim of the week of action is to “block” the Mayor’s budget, which faces a vote in City Hall on Monday 23 February. Read more on the Housing Excellence website.

Union Calls For Council-led Building

Councils should be given a duty to provide homes alongside a greater role in house building, according to a study for Unison. It recommends that councils be given a duty to provide homes in the communities they serve, in partnership with other organisations where necessary. Find more details on the Inside Housing website