Councillors clash over call to support Government's Renters' Rights Bill

Councillors clashed on whether or not Slough Borough Council should support the Government’s Renters’ Rights Bill due to be introduced to protect tenants.

The Renters’ Rights Bill is currently going through parliament and is expected to come into force at the start of next year.

A range of measures are proposed,  including the abolishment of fixed term contracts, which will let tenants stay in their homes until they decide to end their tenancy by giving their landlord two months notice.

At a council meeting on Thursday (September 25), a motion was put forward by Labour councillor Christine Hulme asking councillors to support the bill and recognise the current ‘housing distress’.

The motion said Slough residents are currently ‘at risk of unscrupulous landlords' and asked councillors to introduce a renters' taskforce to tackle landlords' illegal practices.

It also said the council should produce an annual state of housing report.

Speaking at the Observatory House meeting, councillor Hulme (Lab, Herschel Park) said: “We’re now in a position where we’re absolutely desperate to rely on landlordism and the private sector. That has to change, and the renters’ reform bill is part of that change.

“Housing availability and the state of the housing stock in Slough is a huge priority for a large number of residents and us as a council.

“Let’s not have crocodile tears… let’s be realistic about who’s at fault here. It’s been pure greed by the landlords’ sector for years.”

Cllr Hulme added that the ‘biggest reason’ for Slough residents becoming homeless is eviction notices which would be abolished as part of the bill.

Cllr Maroof Mohammad (Lab, Baylis and Salt Hill) backed the motion after hearing from residents who she said are ‘forced to live in uncertainty’.

Cllr Mohammad said: “[The motion] has been put forward because of the housing crisis that is failing to meet the needs of our most vulnerable residents.

“Thousands of residents including families with young children are living in temporary accommodation. This is about people’s lives, families being pushed further into poverty.”

But the motion faced objections from Conservative councillors who 'urged' others to vote against it.

The leader of the council, councillor Dexter Smith (Con, Colnbrook & Poyle), said: “We don’t need a renters’ taskforce to tackle illegal practices because we’re already tackling illegal practices.

“I think the motion is misdirected and I urge members to vote against it.

“The Renters’ Rights Bill, when it becomes law, will have a very adverse effect in reducing the amount of private renters’ accommodation in this country.”

Cllr Paul Kelly (Con, Haymill) addressed the motion’s social housing aspects which asked that the council should develop a social housing improvement plan.

Cllr Kelly said, ‘an improvement plan is already in place’ and it’s ‘fully embedded’.

He said: “We cannot support a motion that references work already underway, offers no benefit to the taxpayer and doesn’t recognise the challenge that we are rebuilding from.”

But councillor Robert Anderson (Lab, Britwell) refuted this and said that the bill is fixing ‘some of the horrors’ that are happening in the rental sector.

Cllr Anderson said: “Now you’re asking us to cry crocodile tears for [landlords]. I’m not sure where that comes from.”

Ultimately members voted against the motion to support the Renters’ Rights Bill and introduce a renters’ taskforce.

Seven members voted for the motion whilst 16 voted against and eight councillors abstained.