Caroline put  forward an amendment to the Housing Bill today which proposed the establishment of a ‘Living Rent Commission’.

New Clause 39 – which Caroline tabled after she proposed a Living Rent Commission in her Housing Charter before the General Election – was  selected for debate as one of the amendments to the Housing and Planning Bill. Caroline wanted to call a vote on the amendment, but unfortunately not enough MPs supported her in doing so. She plans to continue her campaign for a Living Rent Commission. 

Caroline said:

“Before the election I promised the hard up renters of Brighton & Hove that I would do all I could to get them a fairer deal. This Living Rent Commission would begin that process by establishing what a Living Rent should be and how to get there. This would take account of a range of factors, including lack of housing supply and the relationship between rent levels and landlords’ability to cover essential costs. Crucially the Commission would look at ways to bring down the cost of renting – not simply hold it at current, unaffordable levels.”

"Unfortunately there wasn’t sufficient support for the Living Wage Commission in the House of Commons to push my amendment to a vote- leaving Brighton & Hove’s renters consigned to yet more financial hardship. But the campaign for a fair deal for rents won’t stop here. The untenable and indefensible situation for those in the private sector cannot last. With the evidence stacking up against them, and public pressure growing, it’s time for the Government to admit its utter failure on Housing and begin to search for real solutions."

ENDS