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Behind the scenes - 1 May 2009

I thought I would give you a quick update on what I have been up to behind the scenes since my last blog. After a highly successful campaign, which certainly caught the attention of the Government, it became clear that the missing key ingredient to the campaign is the lack of a 'collective tenant voice' and the means to consult their views on mass. This proved crucial, as with no means to communicate with private renting tenants, it is easy for the Government to dismiss our claims and declare most tenants are happy living in the sector (which I am sure is true for some) and they don't require any change of legislation, even, to give them basic protection against eviction for complaining. To add insult to injury any proof we supplied from client cases from cabx and Shelter are deemed by the recent report into the sector as 'well you would say that, wouldn't you. ' So with this in mind, I am currently working with a team to produce the first and only - national online tenants organisation. This will allow tenants' to participate in an online community to gain support advice and if they wish, they will be able to access the tools to campaign in their own right. I believe the time is right to address the injustice and unfairness that tenants endure every day. For these tenants, unlike consumers in every other industry, they currently have no access to legal redress service and have to put up with living in poor accommodation or risk eviction should they complain.

If you are reading this and would like to get involved in some capacity in making a private tenants online organisation a reality - please get in touch. debbiecrw@gmail.com

On a lighter note, I just got the news I have been nominated for Women's Social Leadership Awards 09 which is amazing; despite whether I win or not, I am just thrilled to be associated alongside such inspirational women. Who'd have thought....!

Possessed by the Campaign Bug - 17 December 2008

2008 will certainly go down in my book as a memorable year, with the wonderful highs of speaking in Downing Street next to the Prime Minister and if that wasn't surreal enough, I was a runner-up as North West Inspiring Woman of the year! I have learnt that being out of my comfort zone, although terrifying for me, it is the only way I have truly found out what I'm capable of. For example, I was someone who used to be literately paralysed with fear at the thought of talking in public. However, after a very busy year I can now write a long list of presentation engagements (some very high profile), which I have successfully pulled off. Secretly, I kind of enjoy them now.

On a slightly down side the Rugg review into the Private Rented Sector didn't bear the fruit that the strong lobby to end retaliatory evictions had hoped for. Frankly I think the recommendations will be like putting a plaster on a gapping wound, leaving rogue landlords to continue causing misery for tenants. However, if the recommendations had been taken onboard I would have bowed out as my work will have been done. As any campaigner will tell you it is impossible to walk away from an unresolved issue, it is like being possessed and as much as I want to focus on other things, new ideas to lobby keeps on pushing to the front of my brain. Well I have given in and the New Year will see me taking on probably my biggest challenge to date. So watch this space...

Warmest wishes for Christmas and here's to new challenges for 2009!

DEBBIE CREW: Private Sector Tenants in the UK have fewer rights than in any other Western Society? Do you know different? - 24 November 2008

Well, one thing is for sure, the Rugg review has certainly caused many interesting debates. On the whole, most of the discussion seems to be around the disbelief that Retaliatory evictions will continue under the recommended proposals. The review had two choices; adopt the tried and tested model that exists around the world or come up with a viable alternative option. It failed to deliver either. When I get into a debate on this issue with the landlord lobby they are always quick to focus on bad tenants in an attempt to steer the focus away from the real issue.

No doubt, the feedback from the review has the landlord lobby patting themselves on the back in their perceived belief that their interests have been protected, and the sniff of tax breaks - I'm sure - has got them smiling with glee. Whereas, the tenant lobby and the ones in-between are baffled at how these recommendations could ever work in practice. I have to say, even through I was disappointed by the Law Commissions last paper 'Encouraging responsible letting' I can understand how frustrating and disappointing it must be to spend years producing a reform for the PRS only for the Government to disregard it and then commission another review which completely disregards the findings of the first. Is this a good way of spending public money?

I think the underlying problem in the PRS is the lack of information available and quite rightly there was a recommendation for a better evidence base. On the other hand, it is intriguing how the Rugg report gained the information to allow them to state 'most tenants' are happy? Answers on a postcard please.

I do have some exciting plans going on behind the scenes which I can't go into detail about yet, as they are still being scoped; however, I do hope to share them here soon. This campaign is about to move to whole new level!

DEBBIE CREW:How many people have to live in misery before it is deemed enough to require some protection? - 3 November 2008

In January I excitedly wrote my BLOG after I received a personal telephone call form Yvette Cooper MP, the previous Housing Minister, to say the Government were serious about tackling the issue of retaliatory evictions. She had commissioned a review of the private rented sector which would look at this matter more closely. This review was published last week:

http://www.york.ac.uk/inst/chp/publications/PDF/prsreviewweb.pdf

Over the last few months the campaign has continued to gain momentum with the common agreement (even by the majority of landlords) that retaliatory evictions are a problem that clearly requires a solution. The devil would be in the detail, which was also expressed in my recent correspondence from PM Gordon Brown.

If better security of tenure was out of the question, my preferred option was based on legislation that has been in operation for more than 40 years in the US. However, I remained open minded about possible solutions as long as they did the job of protecting tenants. As I wade my way through the review I can't help but feel hugely disappointed. I'm pretty sure my feelings will be echoed by the organisations that have supported this campaign and the 100+ MPS who showed cross party support on this issue when they signed the current Early Day Motion (EDM). http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMDetails.aspx?EDMID=34884&SESSION=891

Mike Biles (Housing Ombudsman) sent me a copy of their annual report last week which features an article pledging his strong support for the campaign.

Despite this amazing support, we have always known the Achilles heel of this campaign is the lack of available evidence of how wide spread the problem of retaliatory eviction is. If the questions are not being asked and answers go unrecorded by the local authorities, it is easy to say there isn't a problem. The review does make recommendations for better recording of this type of information which is very welcome. However, what I take issue with is that the report appears to be blaming agencies such as Shelter and Citizens Advice Bureau for fuelling fear in PRS tenants by informing them of the risks involved in complaining!

The review contains the results of official surveys that illustrate there are high numbers of rented homes that are non-decent and which tenants are reluctant to complain about. Almost half of all private rented homes contain potentially lethal hazards and the majority of tenants do not enforce their right to get repairs done. Is this not reason enough to give tenants protection to come forward?

The main recommendation of the report calls for all landlords to be registered, which - I think - is a step in the right direction as landlords would only be able to use a Section 21 Notice if they are registered. Although, I have to point out, the government have already introduced licensing for houses in multiple occupation which is not proving as successful as they had hoped for, it is currently estimated that as many as half of HMOs are still not licensed.

I am prepared to be proven wrong, but I feel the review will be inadequate in addressing retaliatory evictions. Sadly, this is such a lost opportunity, which could have taken large steps to bridge the ever widening gap that exists between the rights of the Social tenant and Private sector tenant. While the Social sector continue to enjoy security of tenure and have access to the Housing Ombudsman's scheme, soon they can also add the National Tenant Voice and the new watchdog the Tenant Services Authority (TSA) to their army of empowerment. It is about time we had some empowerment for all tenants and this is why I will continue to campaign, switching my focus from the top down to the bottom up. Please join my Facebook group campaign to give tenants more rights and pass the link to every tenant you know.

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=22978454927

DEBBIE CREW: A key time for tenants’ in the Private Rented Sector - 20 October 2008

On the 23rd October, all eyes will be on the release of the long awaited review of the Private Rented Sector which will be unveiled in York by Julie Rugg and David Rhodes. My fingers and everything else are crossed in the hope that adequate recommendations are made to deal with the unacceptable practice of retaliatory eviction. If my wishes are granted, the campaign will then enter the delicate path on the way to a change in legislation that will put us on par with legislation that exists in the rest of the world. This is when we discover if the pledges and platitudes of well meaning politicians will develop into the much needed positive action.

One of the highlights of my week was receiving a letter from Gordon Brown PM, true to his word he delivered a personal response. The letter was encouraging, in-so-much as, he expressed retaliatory evictions is a practice that clearly should be stopped and he went on to explain how the contents of the PRS review will help path the way forward to any future plans they have. This was echoed by Grant Shapps the Shadow Housing Minister in an interview with the Environmental Health News (EHN) he pledged his full weight behind protecting tenants from retaliatory evictions, stating the practice was 'completely unacceptable, absolutely wrong and inappropriate'. The conservatives also plan to commission their own review of the Private Rented Sector. Link to full interview < http://www.cieh.org/ehn/ehn3.aspx?id=15408 >

One thing for sure, with the current economic climate the Private Rented Sector has never been in more demand, making it crucial that the Government get it right.

New website

There is a new review website for tenants to record their renting experiences, positive or negative. It is early days with contributions on the low side but it could prove to be a useful tool when choosing where to rent. http://www.loveyourlandlord.co.uk

DEBBIE CREW - 16 September 2008

My working days are whizzing by at such speed, I barely have time to catch breath. The thing about campaign work (its main attraction, in my opinon ) is no two minutes are the same. I am extremely fortunate to have such an interesting job that continues to stretch my imagination and experience.

The retaliatory evcition campaign suffered a set back recently when the Law Commission decided not to make any recommendations regarding the concept of retaliatory eviction although their reasons for reaching this conclusion, I find baffling! Reasons stated include the fact tenants do not often exercise their legal rights through court proceedings, the difficulty in gaining evidence, and the view that retaliatory eviction does not fit within the smart regulatory approach that they are advocating. At the risk of sounding like a broken record if this is the case why do the laws we recomend work well in other countries and not here in the UK? All eyes will now be on the Julie Rugg review on the Private rented Sector due to be released on the 23rd October. Thankfully we currently has the support of 100 MPs who have signed the EDM and the growing public support will ensure this issue will not go away. .

One of my favourite TV shows at the moment is the Secret Millionaire where a millionaire goes undercover to find charities that need financial help. My current role involves meeting the most extraordinary people, working for charities that make a huge difference, mostly with little resources. Having worked for a small charity, I can relate to hand to mouth survival and the need to creatively make the most from every opportunity available. I only wish I was a millionaire, because I know of so many amazing charities, who I would gladly write out a large cheque for, without a blink of an eye. One such local group is the team of young people who produce the magazine Youth Live www.youthlive.co.uk The publication is written by young people for young people and I have to tell you it is a refreshing read. I am currently working with them on many ideas such as; reaching young males who fail to seek help when they need it most and challenging the media who continue to give young people such a negative press. Why do they do this, can they not see this is counterproductive and is not helpful?