Dad, 44, makes passionate plea after being victim to 'greed over humanity'
Nearly a third of private renters - an estimated 3.8 million people - "always" or "often" struggle to afford essentials like groceries due to the amount they spend on rent, grim polling shows.
Almost one in 10 have sold or pawned personal items to be able to afford rent, according to the survey by the Renters' Reform Coalition (RRC). More than half - 53% - of renters said they 'always' or 'often' don't have any money left for savings due to the amount they spent on rent.
Average rents have risen by 31% in the last five years, according to recent analysis by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation.
An amendment to the Renters' Rights Bill, which is passing through the House of Lords, calls for a review of rent affordability in England after the bill has been passed. The change, which received cross party support at committee stage, is likely to be brought to a vote in the bill's upcoming Report Stage.
Baroness Grender, the Lib Dem peer who tabled the amendment, said: 'Renters are often paying unreasonably high prices for homes that fail to meet basic standards. That's why I've put forward an amendment to help make renting more affordable and fair. A caring society starts with a stable home, and we should demand nothing less."
Tom Darling, director at the RRC, said: "The cost of rent is out of control - it is just unacceptable that today nearly a third of tenants are struggling just to afford basic necessities like groceries. The Renters' Rights Bill is long overdue, and has a lot to recommend it, but it has very little to say about this affordability crisis.'
A Government spokesman said: 'These findings are concerning. We want to create a fairer housing market and that's why our Renters' Rights Bill will empower tenants to challenge excessive rent hikes and stop landlords from demanding large amounts of rent in advance.
'We are also putting more money in people's pockets by protecting payslips from higher taxes, freezing fuel duty and increasing the minimum wage to deliver pay rises of up to £1,400 a year for millions of low-income workers.'
Under the bill, landlords will only be able to increase rents once per year to the market rate and tenants will be able to challenge unreasonable rent increases through the first-tier tribunal.
::: More in Common surveyed 1,076 private renters between April 25 and May 5 for RRC.
'Landlords are acting with greed rather than humanity'
Trevor Twohig, 44, who lives with his wife and three kids, has accused landlords of acting with 'greed rather than humanity'.
He said he struggles to save up cash for his family and said it was 'ridiculous' renters' lives are at 'the mercy of landlords'.
Trevor, who recently set up a neurodiversity coaching company, said his family were recently evicted from their home in Ashford, Kent, despite having lived there for four years and being 'great tenants'.
Their landlord told Trevor and his wife Tnaesha that he was going to sell the house in November and they had to leave within two months. But Trevor said it was a lie and that the landlord actually hiked the rent by £700.
'He ended up renting it to town people from London for £2,200 per calendar month which highlights the emphasis on greed rather than humanity,' he said.
The family now live in a 'less desirable' area in a £1,500 per month bungalow in Ashford, where his kids have to share one room. Asked if he struggles to save due to high rent prices, Trevor said: 'Yeah, I think so. I think that for everyone at the moment, it's very, very difficult.
'Unfortunately, it seems that as soon as there are a lack of properties in an area, the price rockets up, and that, to me, is unethical. And that prevents people who want to purchase property in this country from being able to save up the money that they need to.
'I do think, absolutely, saving has become a thing of the past for a lot of people, because, yeah, the cost of living, but in particular, the cost of renting and buying is, quite frankly, a bit absurd at the moment.'
Trevor called for better regulation around how much landlords can charge for rent. 'Fundamentally, I think we need renters to be treated with the same respect as homeowners,' he said.
'I just feel at the moment that if you are a renter, you are fundamentally a second-class citizen.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Herald Scotland
2 days ago
- The Herald Scotland
It's time to explode the Establishment myths against a wealth tax
This rebuttal largely goes unchallenged by the national media, yet it has at its heart a number of misleading premises. The first is that wealth creation ceases when the wealthy leave. This stems from the myth that the ruling class create wealth through their ingenuity and risk-taking, as opposed to all financial wealth originating from human labour. It would therefore take a mass exodus or nationwide risk to life for wealth creation in a country to cease – we need only look at the hit private profit would have taken during the pandemic had the state not stepped in to shore it up to see the primacy of human labour evidenced. Read more The second is that existing wealth itself is mobile and can "leave" with the wealthy. Some wealth is, of course, mobile, in the form of fine art, precious gems, other luxury items and the king of capital; cash, which is exactly why currency controls and export restrictions and limits exist. However, a significant proportion of wealth is in immobile assets like land, property and British-based businesses whose wealth is generated by, you guessed it, human labour. This wealth cannot up sticks and leave with an individual. The resources remain in the country and are subject to taxation. The third is the Laffer Curve itself which purports to visualise the relationship between tax rates and tax revenue, the idea being that there is an optimum rate of tax which raises the maximum revenue, above which revenue starts to decrease as taxpayers are deterred from remaining in the tax system. This theory, though influential, is unfounded. The concept of trickle-down economics, that tax cuts raise more revenue by encouraging investment and thus benefit society, has not been borne out in data. Tax cuts have not been found to reduce inequality. UK taxes are considerably lower than in most other western European countries, yet we face significant and persistent income and wealth inequalities. Research from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation found that in the UK the top 10% own a staggering 57% of the wealth, while 2 in every 10 adults and 3 in every 10 children, are in poverty. So, if wealth creation doesn't stop when the already wealthy leave, if the super-rich can't take their British resource-dependent wealth with them, and if tax cuts have not been found to reduce inequality, why is the Establishment so opposed to taxing wealth? The other half of their argument is on what may happen in future. Their fear, they say, is that if we make the country less profitable for wealthy individuals, even slightly so through a modest wealth tax, they will leave, and private interest as a whole will be less likely to invest in our economy. How likely this is has been contested by organisations like Tax Justice UK and Patriotic Millionaires UK, so it seems likely that at least some of the millionaires will stay, but regardless the important question is: what do the rest of us stand to gain from any potential risk of flight? We know that waiting for wealth to trickle down has not worked, that inequality has remained high while the rich get richer. We know we won't lose wealth creation as long as we have a fit and able population to do the work. We know we won't lose all existing wealth as long as we have natural resources, built heritage and, yes, a fit and able population to do the work. In fact, the greatest risk to wealth is workforce shortages caused by a public health service on its knees, an undervalued public education system and a cost-of-living crisis deterring new parents. In short, the greatest risk to wealth is continuing to let it go untaxed. Inequality has remained high while the rich get richer (Image: Getty) Yes, we may lose some wealthy individuals who don't want to pay their fair share, we may see fewer corporate lobbyists on their payroll and fewer freebies for the politicians in their pockets – I'll shed no tears for them – but what we stand to gain is a fairer system. A system that addresses inequality and says clearly and proudly, if your private interest has benefitted from our public services: our health, our education, our labour (in every sense!), you will contribute a proportion of that benefit back into the system. There would be no wealth without us, all we are asking is that we all receive our fair share. A wealth tax is a modest policy whose time has well since come. So let there be no shame in calling for one and in doing so declaring that we will not reward greed and excess, we will build a society in which we all have enough. This Labour Government has an opportunity like no other: a mandate, a majority, and a moral imperative. It must embrace it. Mercedes Villalba is a Scottish Labour MSP for the North East Scotland Region.
Scottish Sun
4 days ago
- Scottish Sun
Tens of thousands of renters booted out of homes as ‘no-fault' evictions surge – despite government plan to crack down
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) TENS of thousands of renters have been booted out of their homes amid a rise in "no-fault" evictions. Section 21 notices enforced by bailiffs have risen by 8% over the last year, according to Ministry of Justice figures. 2 More than 11,400 repossessions after a Section 21 notice were reported over the last year Credit: SWNS That's despite the Labour Government promising to crack down on "no-fault" evictions, which allow landlords to force renters out during their tenancy without needing a specified reason. A total of 11,402 repossessions by county court bailiffs following a Section 21 notice were reported in the year up to June 2025. That's up from 10,576 over the previous 12 months. Labour had pledged to push through new rules that would give more power to tenants and ban Section 21 notices. The rules mean landlords will need to apply for a hearing before they can evict a tenant. But the Renters' Rights Bill hasn't been made into law yet and some landlords have been selling off their properties ahead of the reforms. It was due to come into force this autumn but a report in the Financial Times has suggested it will be pushed back because of delays in Parliament. Campaign group the Renters Reform Coalition raised fears the delay could mean the bill until spring next year. Director Tom Darling said at the time: "Renters will feel let down yet again on hearing that Section 21 no fault evictions are now unlikely to be scrapped until 2026 - a year and a half since the government was elected on a manifesto pledge to 'immediately abolish' them… "Everyone needs a decent, secure home, but with every month that passes thousands more renters are faced with a no-fault eviction." Landlord Responsibilities Homelessness charity Shelter has reacted angrily to the latest Section 21 figures. Spokesperson Mairi MacRae told The Telegraph: "It is unconscionable that more than a year after the Government came to power, thousands of renters continue to be marched out of their homes by bailiffs because of an unfair policy that the Government said would be scrapped immediately." A Government spokesman told the paper: "No one should live in fear of a Section 21 eviction and these new figures show exactly why we will abolish them through our Renters' Rights Bill, which is a manifesto commitment and legislative priority for this Government. "We're determined to level the playing field by providing tenants with greater security, rights and protections in their homes and our landmark reforms will be implemented swiftly after the Bill becomes law." What else is included in the Renters' Rights Bill? It's not just a ban on Section 21 evictions covered in the Renters' Rights Bill. A host of other changes are included in the legislation. These are just a few of the major ones: Ensuring possession grounds are fair to both parties - this will give tenants more security but also allow landlords to recover their properties "when reasonable" Providing stronger protections against backdoor eviction - this will ensure tenants can appeal above-market rents which are designed to force them out Introduce a new Private Rented Sector Landlord Ombudsman - this will mean renters can get impartial help if they have a grievance with their landlord Give tenants strengthened rights to request a pet in the property - a landlord will have to consider this and cannot refuse it unreasonably Apply "Awaab's Law" to the sector - this will set clear legal expectations about the timeframes within which landlords in the private rented sector have to take action to make homes safe where they contain serious hazards. What to do if you've been served a Section 21 notice Here is what you can do, according to the Renters' Reform Coalition… Check the form - a Section 21 notice must be on an official form, known as a 6a form. Your landlord can't issue an eviction notice just by telling you in person or by text/email. Check if the form is valid - you must be given at least two months notice to vacate a property. You also can't be given a Section 21 if your tenancy started less than four months prior. If you are on a fixed-term contract you can't receive a Section 21 unless there is a break clause in it. These things can also make a Section 21 notice invalid: The council has given your landlord an improvement notice to fix things, or an emergency works notice, in the last six months Your deposit isn't in a deposit protection scheme. In that case the landlord must return it to you before they can issue a Section 21 The property is a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) but it doesn't have a HMO licence from the council. In some areas all rented properties need a licence - check with your council The landlord has charged you illegal fees - such as a deposit worth more than five weeks rent, or admin fees. In this case they must return the money to you before serving a Section 21 You never received key paperwork for the property - the Energy Performance Certificate, the 'How to rent' guide, and a gas safety certificate (if there is gas) What to do if the Section 21 is valid You don't have to leave the property at the end of your Section 21 notice. Your landlord still has to apply to court for a possession order and a warrant for eviction, to use court bailiffs to evict you. If you are remaining in your property after the end of a Section 21 notice, make sure you inform your landlord and continue to pay rent while you look for another place to live. If you can't find somewhere to rent and are facing homelessness, tell your council immediately. They should be able to advise you on what to do and provide emergency temporary accommodation or other support. What is the section 21 rule and what are your rights as a renter? THE law - known as Section 21 - means a landlord can ask you to move out without needing a particular reason. The first step of every procedure is the section 21 notice - a letter of notification that the landlord must serve to the tenant, prior to the eviction. The notice to quit is purely informational and doesn't carry any legal power. a letter of notification that the landlord must serve to the tenant, prior to the eviction. The notice to quit is purely informational and doesn't carry any legal power. If you've got a good relationship with your landlord, it might be worth asking them if you can stay in your home for longer. Send a letter to your landlord explaining your situation and keep a copy of any reply you get. Your landlord can't make you leave your home unless they've gone to court to get a possession order and a warrant for eviction. You might be able to challenge your eviction and stay in your home. A section 8 notice can require you to move sooner, but can only be served if the landlord has a reason, such as you breaking the terms of your tenancy. New rules introduced in October 2015 have made it harder to evict you for reporting problems with the property. If you're asked to leave because you've asked for repairs then you should see advice immediately. You can find more tips on how to challenge your eviction on Citizens Advice.
Rhyl Journal
6 days ago
- Rhyl Journal
No-fault evictions by bailiffs up 8% in Labour's first year in Government
The party has pledged to end no-fault evictions under its Renters' Rights Bill, which is in the final stages of going through Parliament. Shelter branded it 'unconscionable' that renters 'continue to be marched out of their homes by bailiffs' a year after Labour came to power. There were 11,402 repossessions by county court bailiffs following a Section 21 notice – known as a no-fault eviction – between July last year and June, according to data published by the Ministry of Justice. This was up 8% from 10,576 for the previous 12-month period. There were 2,679 in the three months to June, which was down from 2,931 the previous quarter and down from 2,915 for the same April to June period last year. The latest Government data also showed 30,729 claims had been issued to households under the accelerated procedure in the year to June. Landlords can apply for an accelerated possession order if the tenants have not left by the date specified in a Section 21 notice. The current figure was down 4% from 32,103 for the previous 12-month period. Mairi MacRae, director of campaigns and policy at Shelter, said: 'It is unconscionable that more than a year after the Government came to power, thousands of renters continue to be marched out of their homes by bailiffs because of an unfair policy that the Government said would be scrapped immediately. 'For far too long, tenants' lives have been thrown into turmoil by the rank injustice of no-fault evictions. At the whim of private landlords, thousands of tenants are being left with just two months to find a new home, plunging them into a ruthless rental market and leaving many exposed to the riptide of homelessness. 'The Renters' Rights Bill will overhaul a broken system and usher in a long-overdue era of stability and security for tenants. To curb record homelessness and ensure renters can live free from the threat of no-fault eviction, the Government must deliver on this commitment, pass the Bill, and name an implementation date when Section 21 will finally be scrapped.' Shelter described no-fault evictions as one of the leading causes of homelessness, giving landlords the power to evict tenants without any reason given. The charity said its analysis of the latest figures suggested that for every month a ban on no-fault evictions is delayed, around 950 households could be removed from their homes by bailiffs. Echoing the call for an urgent ban, homelessness charity Crisis said many are at risk of homelessness if faced with eviction. The charity's chief executive, Matt Downie, said: 'Despite good intentions from the Westminster Government, thousands of people are still being unjustly evicted from their homes and threatened with – or even forced into – homelessness. 'We know the UK Government has had a packed agenda, but we now need ministers to rebuff efforts to weaken the Renters' Rights Bill and get this new legislation onto the statute book as soon as possible when Parliament returns. Unfreezing housing benefit in the autumn would also ensure that more people in England can afford a safe and stable home.' The Renters' Reform Coalition, said the year-on-year fall in accelerated procedure claims 'blows apart the myth of a 'landlord exodus' and eviction surge caused by the Renters' Rights Bill' and urged the Government to 'press on and abolish section 21 immediately once the Bill is passed'. The new data comes a week after Rushanara Ali resigned her role as homelessness minister following a report that she gave tenants at a property she owned in east London four months' notice to leave before relisting the property with a £700 rent increase within weeks. Ms Ali's house, rented on a fixed-term contract, was put up for sale while the tenants were living there, and it was only relisted as a rental because it had not sold, according to the i newspaper. Such a move would likely be prohibited under the Renters' Rights Bill, which is set to introduce new protections for tenants including banning landlords who evict tenants in order to sell their property from relisting it for rent for six months. In her resignation letter Ms Ali insisted she had 'at all times' followed 'all legal requirements' and taken her responsibilities 'seriously', but added that continuing in her role would be 'a distraction from the ambitious work of the Government' and therefore was stepping down. Responding to Thursday's figures, a Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government spokesperson said: 'No one should live in fear of a Section 21 eviction and these new figures show exactly why we will abolish them through our Renters' Rights Bill, which is a manifesto commitment and legislative priority for this Government. 'We're determined to level the playing field by providing tenants with greater security, rights and protections in their homes and our landmark reforms will be implemented swiftly after the Bill becomes law.'
