Councillors call for action as rents reach 56% of pay

Published by Max Salsbury for 24dash.com in Housing and also in Communities, Finance, Local Government

Westminster's Labour councillors have called for council and government action as the average private sector rents reach 56% of pay in the Borough.

The councillors want tenants to be given more protection from increasing rents, rogue landlords and letting agents.

They are now calling for a London living rent, claiming that "no one should have to pay more than one-third of their income on rent ".

They also believe that there is a need for a mandatory landlord registration scheme that will allow tenants to know who their landlord is.

The Labour group's other ideas include a private tenants' charter, in which tenants can set out what is expected of their landlords, and equality for private tenants, whereby they would be afforded the same rights and protections as those housed in Council or Housing Association property.

Councillor Paul Dimoldenberg, Leader of the Labour Group, said: “The private rented sector is now completely out of control with rents and charges increasing every month. There is a real danger that, with demand rising and the supply of new accommodation running dry, more and more people with decent jobs will be priced out of Westminster or forced to pay more and more of their wages on rent and agents’ charges just to get a roof over their heads.

!The continuing (and growing) shortage of genuinely affordable homes increases the opportunities for private landlords to exploit those needing accommodation. This is no way to run a capital city and will lead to misery for thousands, as well as damage London’s economy as many essential workers will simply be priced out of central London.”