Protect tenants directly, not just landlords

The current advice that tenants should "negotiate" with landlords is leaving tenants vulnerable to harassment and exploitation by housing providers refusing to give them rent suspensions and reductions even when interest free loans are available, because they don't want to risk losing or delaying returns on their investment.

Meanwhile tenants everywhere are losing jobs and income; housing benefit is difficult to access with a lengthy bureaucratic process; and few options are available for people who are furloughed on little pay or newly self-employed and losing income on their businesses.

A six month ban on evictions just means a wave of housing insecurity is being postponed, not ruled out. What will we do in September?

Grants to cover rent should go directly to tenants, not landlords, as tenants are the ones facing homelessness.

Why the contribution is important

People need housing security for the long-term, not just the 6-month period of eviction bans. Landlords are more interested in protecting their investments than the safety of their tenants when they can't pay full rent because of this global public health and economic crisis.

by ellenjdm on May 07, 2020 at 01:56PM

Current Rating

Average rating: 4.1
Based on: 7 votes

Comments

  • Posted by katjamcc May 07, 2020 at 19:07

    I am a landlord and I DO care about my tenant. I am accepting a greatly reduced rent and would not evict my tenant during this situation, whether or not they could pay, unless I was forced to sell my property. I could ask for a mortgage holiday payment (and incur extra interest) or ask for a government loan but I do not as I have some savings and would rather use these. However, it would be preferable if my tenant were supported to be able to pay the rent.

  • Posted by Islander64 May 08, 2020 at 03:00

    Many people have lost income.
     Many Landlords are normal hardworking people just like their tenants.
    Landlords have also lost jobs and are in similar situations to their tenants, with the same bills to pay and less coming in.
    I don’t think it’s fair or helpful to criticise Landlords who are reluctant to seek loans, which have to be paid back, in order to cover their expenses... Especially when you are asking for a free grant of money for tenants to cover theirs.
    Perhaps a solution may be government loans for tenants?

  • Posted by CarrieFortune May 09, 2020 at 11:56

    I like the way they have ensured loan is to landlords it’s a loan which needs paid back but you will only be able to apply if you are a legitimate landlord registered I assume which is a good thing as prevents illegal landlords receiving these funds giving funds to tenants instead does not prevent this and also does not ensure landlord receives money and it is the landlord who risks loosing property if bank re possess and the tenant also loosing home. Tenant can’t be evicted by landlord.

  • Posted by sarahctulloch May 11, 2020 at 21:31

    I do agree that there needs to be protection for tenants. However I would disagree that it is only tenants facing homelessness. My husband and I are landlords who rented our only property during a period of a few months abroad. On returning early on a repatriation flight, we have been unable to return to our home and are awaiting some progress on our tenant being able to view and move to another property. We need to protect both landlords and tenants.
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