The long-awaited Renters’ Rights Act comes into force on May 1, but for young people in London, issues of rogue landlords, rampant mould and rising costs make for a bleak property picture. The Act aims to improve security and conditions, but many renters remain sceptical.
Robyn Miller, 27, and her partner Harry were due to move into a flat in Canary Wharf with their rescue dog Moo, having paid £51,000 upfront for a year's rent. A week before moving, their letting agent revealed the landlord did not actually own the property, voiding the contract. They were reimbursed but left with four days to find a new home, eventually moving back in with Robyn's parents in Oxford.
Robyn described the experience as a nightmare, noting that being self-employed meant they had to pay rent upfront, and having a dog narrowed their options. They created a pet CV for Moo but found many advertised 'pet-friendly' properties were not, with landlords often deciding arbitrarily. 'Landlords can basically pick and choose who they want, because they can,' she said.
Last month, tenants of two buildings in Hackney won a landmark £263,000 payout from their billionaire landlord's company, which operated without an HMO licence and left flats in severe disrepair, with mice infestations and broken boilers. When residents complained to the media, they were evicted. A spokesperson for the Somerford Grove Renters campaign said the case 'shows how the law is rigged against renters'.
Matt Hutchinson of SpareRoom commented: 'No one is happy in the rental market right now, least of all renters, who have long had to contend with increases that have outpaced wage growth. Renters usually suffer the consequences when mortgaged landlords are faced with rising interest rates.' The average room price in London remains high, and many young renters struggle to find affordable, secure housing.
