1. Towards a fair and sustainable private rented sector Seb Klier, Policy & Campaigns Manager, Generation Rent Brighton Advice Services Network meeting, May 2015

2. Public campaigns Political lobbying Media Community organising

3. ‘Generation Rent’  11 million private renters  Numbers have doubled within the last ten years  Now second largest tenure – more people living in PRS than social housing  Huge mix of people, including 3+ million families

4. Young, poor and vulnerable?  51% of Renters are Under 35  13% increase in Under 35s in PRS since 2008  20% increase in 20-34 year olds living with parents  LHA changes  PRS eviction the number one cause of homelessness

5. Renting vs. home ownership?  Average 1 st time borrower needs 82% of income for a deposit  If average earners saved 33 percent of their net income, it would take them nearly seven years to put together the necessary deposit. In 2002, a person in the same circumstances would have saved a deposit in 2.5 years.  There are more than 1.8 million households waiting for a social home – an increase of 81% since 1997

6. The Tipping Point

7. What policies do politicians need to implement?  Regulation of the PRS  Ending the culture of capital gain  Investment

8. Regulation of the PRS  National register of landlords  Landlord licensing  Licensing letting agents and banning fees  Rent controls  Mandatory longer tenancies for renters  A ‘Decent Homes’ Standard for all housing

9. Ending the culture of capital gain and property speculation  A ‘secondary’ housing market  Landlord tax on profits  Banking regulation  Community-led regeneration

10. Investment and supply  Massive extension of the social housing grant through taxation  Housing investment fund, capitalised by tenant deposits  Planning reform  Opposition to Right to Buy  Lifting local authority borrowing cap

11. Community organising and giving power to renters  Generation Rent supports, initiates and promotes community organising around housing  Community organising can take many forms, for example, peer support; lobbying the council; public campaigns; direct action etc.  Interaction with advice agencies can help these groups grow and remain sustainable  Can these groups work more closely together?

12. Any questions?  Seb Klier, Policy & Campaigns Manager, Generation Rent  sebklier@generationrent.org sebklier@generationrent.org  07432 6545 290  www.generationrent.org www.generationrent.org