Leeds Central & Headingley MP Alex Sobel has heralded the adoption of two of his amendments to the Renters’ Rights Bill – which he hopes will help prevent the exploitation of renters.
The government’s plan also hopes to drastically improve the mental wellbeing of students. Parts of Burley and Kirkstall have a particularly high per centre of student occupants.
Mr Sobel submitted key amendments to the bill, including limiting the amount of rent in advance payable at the start of a tenancy to a maximum of one month’s rent and prohibit any payment of rent before a tenancy agreement is signed.
Landlords will no longer be able to demand multiple months’ rent in advance as a condition for securing a home. Up until now there has been no limit on how much rent a landlord can request upfront, and some renters are being asked to pay up to a years’ worth of rent, amounting to thousands of pounds before even agreeing a tenancy.
“These amendments address the specific challenges I’ve heard from constituents in Leeds Central and Headingley, while also benefiting renters nationwide,” Mr Sobel told WLD. “I am aware of constituents having to pay £2,500 – six months’ rent – in advance, to secure a basic room in a four-bed shared property. This robs renters of savings or plunges them into debt.”
A new rule will be put in place to stop students feeling pressured into signing a tenancy agreement for a new house so early into an academic year.
“Without regulating the letting season, students are pressured and intimidated by the rental market to sign tenancies with people they hardly know, sometimes nine months before they are due to move,” Mr Sobel added.
“The government’s decision to limit the letting season to six months gives these students the space and time needed to create healthy social relationships and save the money needed for a deposit for the next academic year, drastically improving the mental wellbeing of our students.”
Mr Sobel’s constituency has a figure of 44.8% of constituents in private rentals, compared to a national average of 19.4% and Leeds is home to a student population of around 36,000.
The Headingley and Leeds Central MP has been working closely with organisations including the National Union of Students (NUS), ACORN renters union, Shelter, the Renters’ Rights Coalition, and Leeds University Union Student Executive to ensure greater protections for renters.