
Mum's rent petition signed by more than 40000 people
"This is nearly a 20% increase. As a single parent living with my two children, with one income to live on, the impact will ripple through my life. I feel broken down by this system."
The petition, which can be signed here, is still growing.
This isn't the first issue Bridget has had with rented homes, after extreme damp in a previous home led to a hospital trip after she developed pneumonia.
"I hoped this new home would be better, but once again, I've suffered a huge blow to my security," she says. "Rents in my local area in County Durham are high, and I cannot simply jump to another more affordable option."
She - like many others - is also facing increased bills and food costs.
"I was already struggling to cover my essentials; this shock rent rise will put even more of a strain on me," she says. "My mental health has been badly affected, and I worry about the long-term impact this will have on myself and my family."
Important reforms in the Renters' Rights Bill are currently passing through Parliament. These will help to make renting fairer in England, including ending Section 21 evictions, which currently allow landlords to evict tenants without needing a reason.
"But they do nothing to stop shock rent rises like the one my family has faced," says Bridget.
"While the government says tenants will be able to challenge 'unreasonable' rent rises at tribunal, decisions will be based on what the rent would be if your home was re-let – not what you can afford.
"As long as landlords can price their tenants out of their own homes with unaffordable rent rises, renters will still effectively face unfair evictions and be threatened with homelessness."
Private renters are being HIT with relentless rent hikes.
The impact? Thousands are being pushed into debt and homelessness.
It's time for change. Sign our petition and demand better⤵️https://t.co/AOy1ytWmCv https://t.co/ZxBJ8UbnxQ — Generation Rent (@genrentuk) May 12, 2025
Research from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation showing more than a third of private renters are living in poverty after housing costs. Meanwhile, Generation Rent's research has shown 9/10 renters say the experience of renting has negatively impacted their mental health.
Generation Rent's winter 2024 survey found that the majority of renters (61%) reported that their landlord had asked them to pay a higher rent in the past 12 months with almost a quarter (24%) reported an increase over £100. This compares to just 9% reporting hikes of this size in July 2022, almost a threefold increase.
Meanwhile, the 2024 English Private Landlord survey found one in five landlords hiked the rent by 15% or more the last time they renewed or extended a tenancy.
The most common reason that renters reported they had been given for their rent increases, was not because their landlord faced increased costs, or was struggling more, it was simply because of the rising rewards of the market.
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Almost a third (31%) of landlords had blamed higher market rents, while a further 7% stated that the increase was because of letting agent advice.
The petition adds: "This is indefensible. If renters are to finally feel secure in our own homes, we need protections from shock rent rises.
"Private landlords should not be able to raise the rent higher than inflation or wages. The Government can and must act to change this."
Sign my petition, which has the full backing of Generation Rent, to demand the government introduces a cap on how much landlords can raise the rent.
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Glasgow Times
4 hours ago
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South Wales Argus
6 hours ago
- South Wales Argus
‘Eel lanes' being created in South Downs rivers to assist 4,000-mile migration
The project has been launched by the park authority, which is working with the Western Sussex Rivers Trust to protect the habitat of the eel in the Rother and Ems rivers. It includes the installation of 'fish passes' being created around man-made structures in the rivers which act as a narrow lane of water to provide eels with a route around artificial barriers such as dams and weirs. European eels push themselves upstream to make a home in rivers, including the Rother, pictured, and Ems (Jeff Travis/Western Sussex Rivers Trust/PA) And eel brushes – strips of bristles – are also being added at new water control structures in RSPB Pulborough Brooks and Pagham Harbour to help eels manoeuvre upstream. A spokesman for the national park said: 'The migration of these eels is quite extraordinary as they undergo several metamorphoses during their lives. 'Spawning in the Sargasso Sea, off the coast of Bermuda, the eel eggs hatch into wriggling pea-sized larvae that have the appearance of a see-through leaf. 'Over the next couple of years, these opaque creatures drift along with the Gulf Stream, their bodies elongating as they enter the next life stage as a 'glass eel'. 'Upon reaching the English coastline, they use the force of the tides – and their new-found body shape at around 8cm in length – to push themselves upstream to make a home in rivers, including the Rother and Ems. 'Once in rivers, they go through more life cycles, growing up to one metre in length and living for up to 20 years, gorging on fish, molluscs and crustaceans. 'The end of their lives sees a fantastic finale. Entering the 'silver eel' stage, their pectoral fins widen, muscle mass increases, their digestive tracts shut down and their eyes grow up to 10 times their original size, all to help see them through one final swim. Once in rivers, European eels live for up to 20 years (Chris Wallis/Western Sussex Rivers Trust/PA) 'Fighting their way back against strong currents, silver eels head 4,000 miles back across the Atlantic to the Sargasso Sea to spawn.' Aimee Felus, chief executive of the Western Sussex Rivers Trust, said: 'The health of our rivers here in the South East is crucial to the quality of our coastal waters, and vital to the health of the many creatures who call these fresh and salt waters home. 'Through our River Guardian monitoring project we are pushing for higher water quality improvements, quicker identification of pollution incidents and raising awareness of how all communities can get involved to help protect their local rivers. 'By removing man-made structures which limit how easily fish species, including the extraordinary eel, can move around, we are helping improve migration routes and their ability to reach better feeding spots. 'With pollution, sewage and drought all playing a part in the diminishing water quality of our rivers and streams, it's more important than ever that we work together to help protect and enhance these precious habitats for wildlife and humans alike.' Jan Knowlson, biodiversity officer for the South Downs National Park, said: 'The eels we have in the national park are truly remarkable and their incredible migration underlines the important connection between our rivers and seas. 'There's a continuum and all these watercourses are joined up. So healthier rivers ultimately mean healthier seas and vice versa. 'Here at the South Downs National Park, we have eight large river systems, dozens of chalk streams and a sizeable coastline and know that having well-managed, cleaner waterways are absolutely paramount to nature bouncing back across this vast region.'

Western Telegraph
6 hours ago
- Western Telegraph
‘Eel lanes' being created in South Downs rivers to assist 4,000-mile migration
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