Rent Reform Report

This Assembly notes the Housing Committee’s recent report, Rent Reform: Making London's Private Rented Sector Fit for Purpose, which found evidence of significant problems with London’s private rented housing, and reaffirms its desire that the Mayor accepts the recommendations and lobbies Government for a new settlement for tenants and landlords.

Further to the report, the Assembly supports the demands made by the Let Down campaign, namely:

• An end to fees for tenants, bringing English policy in line with Scotland
• Proper regulation of letting agents
• No discrimination by landlords, letting agents, mortgage lenders and insurers that disadvantages people on housing benefit
• Action to bring down rents and keep them under control
• Longer secure tenancies for all tenants

This Assembly calls on the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government to implement these reforms, and on the Mayor of London to incorporate these policies into his forthcoming Housing Strategy and his London Rental Standard.