UNISON recently partnered with Generation Rent, a housing campaign organisation advocating for people who rent, to understand the realities of public sector workers.
Four key areas emerged from the discussions: affordability, standards, security, and the treatment of renters.
Members struggled greatly to find affordable homes to rent, with the rising cost of living making covering the rent and other costs increasingly difficult.
One member, Rebecca, said: “I’m currently in major debt with my gas and electric, because I’m choosing to pay my rent over that.
“My mum is feeding me and my son because, otherwise, by the time all the other bills are paid, and there’s diesel in the car to get to work, there’s nothing left.”
Last year, a UNISON survey found that almost a third (32%) of union members who rent their home were spending 60% or more of their income on their rent.
Poor standards and disrepair were commonplace, some of which is endangering health, with many members struggling or unable to get their landlords to carry out repairs.
Working renters struggled to assert their rights, and had to put up with poor treatment from landlords and letting agents, due to worries over ‘no fault’ evictions and the lack of good quality, affordable homes to move into. The threat of eviction and homelessness appears constant.
One member, Julie, said: “We’re treated like second-class citizens, when in fact a lot of us are probably paying more than what our neighbours are paying on their mortgage.”
UNISON assistant policy officer Sylvia Jones said: “From nurses keeping us healthy to teachers educating our children, our members are the very foundation of our society, yet our report exposes a shocking reality: a growing number of these essential workers are struggling to find a decent, affordable place to live.
“The new Labour government has a chance to be the solution,” she added. “We need strong legislation to clean up the private rental sector – and criminalise rogue landlords who break the rules and mis-treat renters – alongside a significant increase in council and social housing.
“By building the right homes, protecting renters, and ensuring adequate supply and affordability, a new Labour government can finally offer a path out of the housing crisis for millions of hard-working citizens”.
The UNISON report outlines how to fix these problems: by building a system based on decency and true affordability for everyone. This involves an increase in social homes alongside improved rights and protections for renters and effective regulation to get rid of exploitative and criminal landlords and agents.
The article UNISON members speak out about the renting crisis first appeared on the UNISON National site.