Latest news with #GenerationRent
South Wales Argus
4 days ago
- General
- South Wales Argus
Mum's rent petition signed by more than 40000 people
Bridget, from Darlington, is campaigning to limit rent rises for tenants. She says: "My landlord recently hiked my rent by £100. I've been renting privately all my adult life, but getting a sudden rent hike still comes as a shock and has been very stressful, especially as the landlord gave us just one month's notice. "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⤵️ — 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. Recommended reading: 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.
The Independent
25-05-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Single mother hit with 20% hike by landlord calls for UK rent control
A single mother facing a 20 per cent rent hike is campaigning for a cap on rent increases in the UK. Bridget Chapman, 56, from Darlington, County Durham, has been a private renter her entire adult life. She received a month's notice from her landlord informing her of a £100 rent increase. A recent survey by Generation Rent found that 61 per cent of renters have been asked to pay higher rent in the past year, with almost a quarter reporting an increase of over £100. Ms Chapman said that while she welcomes reforms in the Renters' Rights Bill going through Parliament, they do 'nothing to stop shock rent rises' like her family is currently faced with. The Renters' Rights Bill seeks to introduce an end to no-fault evictions, stopping bidding wars for tenancies, helping tenants challenge unreasonable rent increases and preventing landlords from demanding more than a month's rent in advance from a new tenant. 'I just got so angry that the landlord can raise the rent whenever he wants and give me a month's notice,' Ms Chapman told the PA news agency. 'I'm paying a lot more now and it's having a knock on effect on everything else. 'I'm a single parent, so even though my kids are now adults they're still young and I'm still supporting them. 'I have a very low disposable income so it's really difficult especially since everything else has gone up including gas and electricity.' Ms Chapman, who says she feels 'let down by the system' experienced extreme dampness in her previous home which led her to being rushed to hospital with pneumonia. 'We moved into the property and I've got asthma, so the damp started to creep in,' she said. 'We didn't realise how bad until the mould was literally black. 'The landlord gave me a dehumidifier which literally did nothing. 'Luckily I was okay. I survived, but when I had to recover, I had to go back to the house, which was full of damp and mould.' Ms Chapman hoped her new home which she has been renting for eight years would be better but she now feels she has suffered a 'huge blow' to her security. With rents in her local area being so high, she does not feel she can move to a more affordable option. Ms Chapman launched her petition which has gained over 45,000 signatures on Sunday, as she feels she 'can't do anything else'. 'Doing this petition is my way to make my voice heard,' she said. 'The Government firstly needs to cap rent increases. They also need to look at capping gas and electricity bills. 'Wages are not going up, so people are struggling even more, because they're on the same wage and they pay more money for everything else. 'You get people who are working hard, full-time, and they're having to go to food banks. I think that's so wrong.' Generation Rent says its research shows the 'most common' reason landlords put up rent is not higher costs, but rather to increase their revenue as local rents rise. Almost a third (31 per cent) of landlords blamed higher market rents, while a further seven per cent stated that the increase was because of letting agent advice. 'This is indefensible. If renters are to finally feel secure in our own homes, we need protections from shock rent rises,' a Generation Rent spokesperson said. 'Private landlords should not be able to raise the rent higher than inflation or wages. The Government can and must act to change this.' Government spokesperson said: 'Through our Renters' Rights Bill we are taking decisive action to transform the private renting sector for the better and empower tenants to tackle unreasonable rent hikes. 'Alongside this, as part of our Plan for Change we are putting more money in people's pockets by protecting payslips from higher taxes and increasing the minimum wage to deliver pay rises of up to £1,400 a year for millions of low-income workers.'
The Independent
25-05-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Single mother landed with 20% rent increase calls for rent controls
A single mother whose landlord has increased her rent by 20% is campaigning for a cap on how much landlords can raise rent in the UK. Bridget Chapman, 56, from Darlington in County Durham, who has been a private renter her entire adult life, was given just a month's notice by her landlord when they increased her rent by £100. A recent survey by campaign group Generation Rent revealed that 61% of renters said their landlord had asked them to pay a higher rent in the past 12 months with almost a quarter (24%) reporting an increase of over £100. Ms Chapman said that while she welcomes reforms in the Renters' Rights Bill going through Parliament, they do 'nothing to stop shock rent rises' like her family is currently faced with. The Renters' Rights Bill seeks to introduce an end to no-fault evictions, stopping bidding wars for tenancies, helping tenants challenge unreasonable rent increases and preventing landlords from demanding more than a month's rent in advance from a new tenant. 'I just got so angry that the landlord can raise the rent whenever he wants and give me a month's notice,' Ms Chapman told the PA news agency. 'I'm paying a lot more now and it's having a knock on effect on everything else. 'I'm a single parent, so even though my kids are now adults they're still young and I'm still supporting them. 'I have a very low disposable income so it's really difficult especially since everything else has gone up including gas and electricity.' Ms Chapman, who says she feels 'let down by the system' experienced extreme dampness in her previous home which led her to being rushed to hospital with pneumonia. 'We moved into the property and I've got asthma, so the damp started to creep in,' she said. 'We didn't realise how bad until the mould was literally black. 'The landlord gave me a dehumidifier which literally did nothing. 'Luckily I was okay. I survived, but when I had to recover, I had to go back to the house, which was full of damp and mould.' Ms Chapman hoped her new home which she has been renting for eight years would be better but she now feels she has suffered a 'huge blow' to her security. With rents in her local area being so high, she does not feel she can move to a more affordable option. Ms Chapman launched her petition which has gained over 45,000 signatures on Sunday, as she feels she 'can't do anything else'. 'Doing this petition is my way to make my voice heard,' she said. 'The Government firstly needs to cap rent increases. They also need to look at capping gas and electricity bills. 'Wages are not going up, so people are struggling even more, because they're on the same wage and they pay more money for everything else. 'You get people who are working hard, full-time, and they're having to go to food banks. I think that's so wrong.' Generation Rent says its research shows the 'most common' reason landlords put up rent is not higher costs, but rather to increase their revenue as local rents rise. Almost a third (31%) of landlords blamed higher market rents, while a further 7% stated that the increase was because of letting agent advice. 'This is indefensible. If renters are to finally feel secure in our own homes, we need protections from shock rent rises,' a Generation Rent spokesperson said. 'Private landlords should not be able to raise the rent higher than inflation or wages. The Government can and must act to change this.' A Government spokesperson said: 'Through our Renters' Rights Bill we are taking decisive action to transform the private renting sector for the better and empower tenants to tackle unreasonable rent hikes. 'Alongside this, as part of our Plan for Change we are putting more money in people's pockets by protecting payslips from higher taxes and increasing the minimum wage to deliver pay rises of up to £1,400 a year for millions of low-income workers.'
Belfast Telegraph
25-05-2025
- Politics
- Belfast Telegraph
Single mother landed with 20% rent increase calls for rent controls
Bridget Chapman, 56, from Darlington in County Durham, who has been a private renter her entire adult life, was given just a month's notice by her landlord when they increased her rent by £100. A recent survey by campaign group Generation Rent revealed that 61% of renters said their landlord had asked them to pay a higher rent in the past 12 months with almost a quarter (24%) reporting an increase of over £100. Ms Chapman said that while she welcomes reforms in the Renters' Rights Bill going through Parliament, they do 'nothing to stop shock rent rises' like her family is currently faced with. The Renters' Rights Bill seeks to introduce an end to no-fault evictions, stopping bidding wars for tenancies, helping tenants challenge unreasonable rent increases and preventing landlords from demanding more than a month's rent in advance from a new tenant. 'I just got so angry that the landlord can raise the rent whenever he wants and give me a month's notice,' Ms Chapman told the PA news agency. 'I'm paying a lot more now and it's having a knock on effect on everything else. 'I'm a single parent, so even though my kids are now adults they're still young and I'm still supporting them. 'I have a very low disposable income so it's really difficult especially since everything else has gone up including gas and electricity.' Ms Chapman, who says she feels 'let down by the system' experienced extreme dampness in her previous home which led her to being rushed to hospital with pneumonia. 'We moved into the property and I've got asthma, so the damp started to creep in,' she said. 'We didn't realise how bad until the mould was literally black. 'The landlord gave me a dehumidifier which literally did nothing. 'Luckily I was okay. I survived, but when I had to recover, I had to go back to the house, which was full of damp and mould.' Ms Chapman hoped her new home which she has been renting for eight years would be better but she now feels she has suffered a 'huge blow' to her security. With rents in her local area being so high, she does not feel she can move to a more affordable option. Ms Chapman launched her petition which has gained over 45,000 signatures on Sunday, as she feels she 'can't do anything else'. 'Doing this petition is my way to make my voice heard,' she said. 'The Government firstly needs to cap rent increases. They also need to look at capping gas and electricity bills. 'Wages are not going up, so people are struggling even more, because they're on the same wage and they pay more money for everything else. 'You get people who are working hard, full-time, and they're having to go to food banks. I think that's so wrong.' Generation Rent says its research shows the 'most common' reason landlords put up rent is not higher costs, but rather to increase their revenue as local rents rise. Almost a third (31%) of landlords blamed higher market rents, while a further 7% stated that the increase was because of letting agent advice. 'This is indefensible. If renters are to finally feel secure in our own homes, we need protections from shock rent rises,' a Generation Rent spokesperson said. 'Private landlords should not be able to raise the rent higher than inflation or wages. The Government can and must act to change this.' A Government spokesperson said: 'Through our Renters' Rights Bill we are taking decisive action to transform the private renting sector for the better and empower tenants to tackle unreasonable rent hikes. 'Alongside this, as part of our Plan for Change we are putting more money in people's pockets by protecting payslips from higher taxes and increasing the minimum wage to deliver pay rises of up to £1,400 a year for millions of low-income workers.'
Rhyl Journal
25-05-2025
- Politics
- Rhyl Journal
Single mother landed with 20% rent increase calls for rent controls
Bridget Chapman, 56, from Darlington in County Durham, who has been a private renter her entire adult life, was given just a month's notice by her landlord when they increased her rent by £100. A recent survey by campaign group Generation Rent revealed that 61% of renters said their landlord had asked them to pay a higher rent in the past 12 months with almost a quarter (24%) reporting an increase of over £100. Ms Chapman has been a private renter for her entire adult life (Yui Mok/PA) Ms Chapman said that while she welcomes reforms in the Renters' Rights Bill going through Parliament, they do 'nothing to stop shock rent rises' like her family is currently faced with. The Renters' Rights Bill seeks to introduce an end to no-fault evictions, stopping bidding wars for tenancies, helping tenants challenge unreasonable rent increases and preventing landlords from demanding more than a month's rent in advance from a new tenant. 'I just got so angry that the landlord can raise the rent whenever he wants and give me a month's notice,' Ms Chapman told the PA news agency. 'I'm paying a lot more now and it's having a knock on effect on everything else. 'I'm a single parent, so even though my kids are now adults they're still young and I'm still supporting them. 'I have a very low disposable income so it's really difficult especially since everything else has gone up including gas and electricity.' Ms Chapman, who says she feels 'let down by the system' experienced extreme dampness in her previous home which led her to being rushed to hospital with pneumonia. 'We moved into the property and I've got asthma, so the damp started to creep in,' she said. 'We didn't realise how bad until the mould was literally black. 'The landlord gave me a dehumidifier which literally did nothing. 'Luckily I was okay. I survived, but when I had to recover, I had to go back to the house, which was full of damp and mould.' Ms Chapman hoped her new home which she has been renting for eight years would be better but she now feels she has suffered a 'huge blow' to her security. With rents in her local area being so high, she does not feel she can move to a more affordable option. Ms Chapman launched her petition which has gained over 45,000 signatures on Sunday, as she feels she 'can't do anything else'. 'Doing this petition is my way to make my voice heard,' she said. 'The Government firstly needs to cap rent increases. They also need to look at capping gas and electricity bills. 'Wages are not going up, so people are struggling even more, because they're on the same wage and they pay more money for everything else. 'You get people who are working hard, full-time, and they're having to go to food banks. I think that's so wrong.' Generation Rent says its research shows the 'most common' reason landlords put up rent is not higher costs, but rather to increase their revenue as local rents rise. Almost a third (31%) of landlords blamed higher market rents, while a further 7% stated that the increase was because of letting agent advice. 'This is indefensible. If renters are to finally feel secure in our own homes, we need protections from shock rent rises,' a Generation Rent spokesperson said. 'Private landlords should not be able to raise the rent higher than inflation or wages. The Government can and must act to change this.' A Government spokesperson said: 'Through our Renters' Rights Bill we are taking decisive action to transform the private renting sector for the better and empower tenants to tackle unreasonable rent hikes. 'Alongside this, as part of our Plan for Change we are putting more money in people's pockets by protecting payslips from higher taxes and increasing the minimum wage to deliver pay rises of up to £1,400 a year for millions of low-income workers.' You can read more about Ms Chapman's petition at:
