Boris Johnson’s Rental Standard is Failing
A Labour London Assembly member has said that Boris Johnson’s voluntary self-regulation system for landlords is failing private tenants in Tower Hamlets.
Boris Johnson’s Rental Standard is Failing
The London Rental Standard (LRS) scheme was launched last year. The London Mayor pledged to sign up 100,000 landlords by May 2015. However, Labour’s candidate for the mayoral election in Tower Hamlets, John Biggs, says only 14,350 of London’s 300,000 private landlords have signed up. Johnson is therefore just 14% of the way there.
Introduced on 28th May 2014, the LRS sets minimum standards for landlords and combines several voluntary landlord accreditation schemes in London.
When the LRS was launched, it was reported that 13,512 landlords were already signed up to various accreditation schemes. Since, just 838 additional landlords have signed up, despite a publicity campaign.
Biggs says: “Boris Johnson’s abysmal record on housing is epitomised by the fact that with less than a year to go he has signed up just 14% of the 100,000 landlords he promised by May 2015. This is failing private renters in Tower Hamlets.
“We need real change in the private rented sector. Residents in Tower Hamlets need the peace of mind and security of longer tenancy agreements, caps on rent increases and an end to no fault evictions. Instead, Boris Johnson’s system of voluntary self-regulation is leaving private renters with little protection from bad landlords.”1