Oldham Liberal Democrats win council vote on fair deal for private renters

Plans set out by Oldham Liberal Democrats to strengthen protections for private renters in the borough were passed at a meeting of Oldham’s Full Council on Wednesday 1 November.

Oldham Liberal Democrat Leader councillor Howard Sykes MBE said the outcome of the debate was “welcome news for the increasing number of people across Oldham who rely on private rentals.  This is an important first step in getting to grips with what has become an unsafe and insecure sector for tenants.”

The Liberal Democrat motion called on Oldham Council to get tougher on rogue landlords by issuing improvement notices where living conditions are not good enough.  The Party also called for an end to Section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions as well as for more support to be made available when residents make legal challenges against landlords. 

This follows calls from leading housing charities across Greater Manchester for a ‘private renting emergency’, after the ending of a private rented tenancy became one of the leading causes of homelessness in the region.  The average cost of renting rose by 13% across Oldham in the last year alone.

Speaking in the council chamber, Liberal Democrat Housing spokesperson councillor Garth Harkness said, “The private rented sector has become like the Wild West.  I know of one family who have seen several rent increases in the last six months.”

Councillor Sykes also hit out at the Government over delays to the long-promised Private Renters Reform Bill stating, “If we’re going to wait for Westminster to step in, we’re going to be waiting a very long time.  Conservative MPs recently said it was ‘un-conservative’ to try to reform the private rented sector.

Councillor Sykes said: “Of course, that will have nothing to do with the fact that so many of them are landlords themselves.”

Plans set out by Oldham Liberal Democrats to strengthen protections for private renters in the borough were passed at a meeting of Oldham’s Full Council on Wednesday 1 November.

Oldham Liberal Democrat Leader councillor Howard Sykes MBE said the outcome of the debate was “welcome news for the increasing number of people across Oldham who rely on private rentals.  This is an important first step in getting to grips with what has become an unsafe and insecure sector for tenants.”

The Liberal Democrat motion called on Oldham Council to get tougher on rogue landlords by issuing improvement notices where living conditions are not good enough.  The Party also called for an end to Section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions as well as for more support to be made available when residents make legal challenges against landlords. 

This follows calls from leading housing charities across Greater Manchester for a ‘private renting emergency’, after the ending of a private rented tenancy became one of the leading causes of homelessness in the region.  The average cost of renting rose by 13% across Oldham in the last year alone.

Speaking in the council chamber, Liberal Democrat Housing spokesperson councillor Garth Harkness said, “The private rented sector has become like the Wild West.  I know of one family who have seen several rent increases in the last six months.”

Councillor Sykes also hit out at the Government over delays to the long-promised Private Renters Reform Bill stating, “If we’re going to wait for Westminster to step in, we’re going to be waiting a very long time.  Conservative MPs recently said it was ‘un-conservative’ to try to reform the private rented sector.”

Councillor Sykes said, “Of course, that will have nothing to do with the fact that so many of them are landlords themselves.”