Words by Ed King
A local community group are hosting a special event for renters across Erdington offering advice, guidance, and support around tenant’s rights and how to challenge unscrupulous landlords.
Held on Thursday 12 September at Six Ways Baptist Church, from 11:30am to 2:30pm, the daytime drop-in session will be free to attend – with no advance booking or referrals from third parties required.
Organised by Erdington based Community Interest Company (CIC) People for People, the tenant’s rights support session will be led by the Birmingham branch of ACORN – an international community union established in 1970 that offers support on social issues and housing.
Established as a CIC in February 2022, People for People are a self-described “migrant led organisation” who work across the community to “connect people, encourage mutual support, and create a sense of belonging.”
With renter’s rights often a key issue for people coming to live in the UK from abroad, as well as the existing pressures from private landlords put on renters across the country, the session on Thursday 12 September will be a chance for many across the community to access much needed free support.
People will be able to get advice on any issues around housing and their rights as private tenants, including the legal requirements on property maintenance and how to protect security deposits.
One of the Directors of People for People CIC, Magdalena Breitkopf, told Erdington Local: “During our weekly housing advice sessions at the Six Ways Erdington Baptist Church we identified the need for practical advice on housing in the private sector and we didn’t want to just signpost people, we wanted to bring that advice directly to residents of Erdington.”
The session will also look at the legal framework of an existing tenancy agreement, helping renters fight surprise and ‘no fault’ evictions and keep a roof over their head.
Housing charity Crisis reported a rise of 32% in section 21 notices being issued at the end of last year, where a landlord can evict a tenant without any reason or cause – allowing them to sell or rent the tenant’s home from under them with only eight weeks notice.
Homelessness charity Shelter further report that ‘500 renters are served a section 21 eviction notice EVERY DAY’ and have written an open letter to the top housing politicians in Westminster to force long promised reform through the Commons.
Blamed for uprooting families and stripping renter’s rights, the contentious section 21 notice was set to be abolished in the previous government’s Renters Reform Bill – which campaigners say was “hijacked by grubby deals behind the scenes” and fell dormant after its second reading in May 2024, before the General Election.
The now Labour government have reintroduced proposed changes in the now called Renter Rights Bill, which is set to receive its first reading in October.
If the bill passes successfully through Parliament it is hoped the new legislation would come into effect by October 2025.
For more on People for People CIC visit www.peopleforpeoplecic.org
For more from ACORN Birmingham visit www.facebook.com/Acornbrum
