As a Labour councillor representing residents in Broxbourne, I felt compelled to respond to the recent editorial about the Renters' Rights Act. While I appreciate BroxTown providing a platform for debate on this important issue, the piece presented a fundamentally one-sided view of legislation that addresses a genuine crisis in our housing system.

The editorial reflects a pattern I've seen across the country: well-intentioned landlords genuinely worried about regulatory changes, but often responding to misinformation rather than the actual content of the Act. More troublingly, it entirely overlooks the perspective of the thousands of renters in our borough who face insecurity, unfair treatment, and substandard conditions. As a Labour councillor, I believe we have a duty to represent all our residents - not just those who own property, but those struggling to afford it too.

Since the Renters' Rights Act was first proposed by the Labour Government, there has been a great deal of fear-mongering about what it means for landlords. I'm writing this in response to a recent piece in BroxTown to myth bust some false perceptions.

What is often missing from the debate is any serious recognition of the rights and protections the Act provides to renters: protection from unfair evictions that push families into homelessness, from unreasonable rent increases, and from poor-quality homes that cause real health problems - including for young children. That imbalance has to change, and the Labour Government is right to act in support of 11 million renters. 

The idea that the Renters’ Rights Act is excessive or makes life unworkable for landlords is usually based on exaggeration or mistruths. The single biggest cause of homelessness in England is Section 21 “no-fault” evictions - where tenants can be forced out of their home with just two months’ notice and no reason given.A Landlord could turf a single mother onto the street for complaining about damp and mould in their home - is that fair? In England, someone approaches a local authority as homeless every 20 minutes due to a no-fault eviction.

The Act ends that injustice, while still allowing landlords to regain possession of their property for genuine reasons such as rent arrears, antisocial behaviour, or moving themselves or a family member into the home. That is a basic and proportionate protection, not an unreasonable one.

The legislation also introduces sensible safeguards around rent increases, limiting them to once a year and giving tenants the right to challenge excessive rises. It ensures all private rented homes must meet minimum safety and quality standards, preventing people from being forced to live in cold, damp or unsafe conditions. These measures simply raise standards and protect renters from being treated unfairly - if you are a good landlord, there is nothing to fear. 

More broadly, we have a structural problem in our economy. People who go out to work for a living are left with less money at the end of the month, swallowed up by rising bills, food costs and rent. Tenants now pay an average of 36% of their income just to keep a roof over their heads. That is not sustainable. If we want a growing economy, people need to be able to spend and live their lives - not hand over an ever-larger share of their wages just to stay housed. 

I recognise that many landlords have worked hard over years to build an investment. But rent costs in England have spiralled out of control, and the balance has tipped too far. The Renters’ Rights Act begins the necessary work of rebalancing a system that has allowed this crisis to deepen for too long.

Alongside stronger protections for renters, we also need a serious programme of house building - particularly affordable and council homes that nurses, teachers and postal workers can afford  and to look at further measures to bring down rents, including giving city mayors the power to introduce rent controls where appropriate.

Thank you to Councillor Sean Waters for this thoughtful and well-argued contribution. This is exactly the kind of informed debate that strengthens our community - differing perspectives, rooted in facts, that help readers form their own views on the issues that matter most.

At Broxtown, we believe in fair hearing and balanced discussion. Whether you agree with this response or the original editorial, both pieces contribute to a richer understanding of complex policy decisions affecting our borough.

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Have a fab day!

Cheers,
Editor-in-chief | Emeka Ogbonnaya

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