Sheffield council election candidate calls for cap on “astronomical” rents
Many young people live with their parents because of housing costs
A Sheffield by-election candidate has presented a petition to the city council calling for a cap on “astronomical” home rental costs.
Isabelle France, Trade Unionist & Socialist Coalition candidate in the upcoming Walkley council ward by-election, had hoped to present the petition to a city council full council meeting scheduled to take place tomorrow, Wednesday (September 9).
This will now take place on September 23, after the by-election.
Ms France said: “Housing costs are astronomical. It’s almost impossible for young people to buy a house and rents are so high (in Sheffield, up 25 per cent in five years) that many young people still live at their parental home.
“TUSC says introduce a rent cap across Sheffield. This would give renters far more security and stop the exploitation by landlords.
“But Burnham’s Labour government have already said they will not do this!”
She said the petition calls for the council to fully use new powers under the Renters Rights Act.
“I will say that the council should use councils’ powers to compulsorily register private landlords and enforce Decent Homes Standards for private rented homes, and set up council-run lettings agencies, as the means to tackle repair standards, high rents, over-occupancy and extortionate letting fees, with fully staffed, unionised in-house enforcement teams.”
Ms France also called for he council to fund the work of renter unions to build a tenants’ movement to challenge rent rises.
TUSC is calling for a mass council house-building programme, as promised by Andy Burnham.
It also opposes building on green belt land. “Once it’s gone it has gone,” said Ms France. “If we agree to it being built on now, more will be taken in the future.”
TUSC are holding a public meeting this Thursday, September 10, at 7pm at Walkley Community Centre on Fir Street.
The Walkley by-election was prompted by the resignation of Andy Davies. Voting takes place take place on Thursday, September 17.
This is the full list of candidates:
Hannah Cawley, Labour and Co-operative Party
Isabel Amy France, Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition
Alex Purvis, Liberal Democrats
Andrew John Telford, Reform UK
Sonny Ullah, The Conservative Party
Seb Van Bilsen Irias, Green Party