Bristol City Council want your say on the private rental sector
The authority want Bristol to become a 'Living Rent City' - but the powers needed to make sure the rental market works for all don't like with local government
Last updated 9th Jun 2024
Bristol City Council have launched a new survey, looking at the idea of rent control to help the city become an area people renting in the private market can afford to live in.
The survey's come about as the local authority doesn't have the power to introduce rent control on landlords.
That's where the Bristol public come in - by having your say in their survey, you'll be helping the authority taking steps to tackling the rental crisis in the city.
Asking people about their thoughts on the purpose of rent control; things that they'd like to see in a rent control scheme; and asking for their views on four possible systems of rent control, the commission is looking at how being a 'living rent' city can have a positive impact on the quality and availability of rental property across the region.
Launched earlier this year, the Living Rent Commission was founded to secure five aims:
- Improve affordability in the private rented sector
- Understand the impact of regulation on rent prices - including housing quality and maintenance
- Identifying the most effective rent controls
- Consider what other powers are requires
- Consider how to empower the rights of tenants
Councillor Tom Renhard, Cabinet Member for Housing Delivery and Homes said: "One of the key things for us is that affordability in the private rented centre has got really bad in recent years. People are really struggling to be able to rent in the city, and many people don't have the chance to be able to stay where they want to in a secure way.
"The survey is the first step and the findings from the survey will feed into the report that's being written in conjunction with the University of Bristol.
"It's being written because we currently don't have powers devolved to us to control private rents. The report will help us demand to Government to make sure they they are devolving these powers, because we - as the local authority - are in the best place to decide what's best for Bristol around regulation of the private rental sector.
"We need to have those powers devolved to be able to actually help renters in the private sector - especially as, at the moment, over 30% of our housing stock in Bristol is private. It's a huge, huge number that's way above the national average.
"whilst there are people of all ages in the private rented sector, we would say there's a lot of younger people being affected by the private rental sector, and the other group impacted the most has to be families. There are so many other considerations as well - but the demographics of Bristol are changing, and we're responding to that.
"We're really keen to hear from a wide range of people - and I'd urge everyone to get involved with the survey because we need to find a system that works... the current situation can't carry on any longer."
It's the second city-wide survey of its kind - and will help to inform the work of the Living Rent Commission.
The survey will help to inform the work of the commission and its final report - due in early 2023 - which will then be handed from the local authority to the Government, as Bristol City Council continue to push for devolved powers regarding housing and rental control.
Co-chair of the commission, Professor Alex Marsh from the University of Bristol, said: “Housing affordability for renters is a pressing issue not just in Bristol but across the country. There is widespread interest in finding effective solutions to the problem. This survey is an opportunity to share your views on key policies that have been proposed as a solution for the sector’s affordability problems.
“The Living Rent Commission is keen to hear from everyone in Bristol who is interested in improving the way the sector operates. We look forward to hearing from a broad range of people. Your views will be an important input into the commission’s discussions.”
You can take part in the Bristol rent control survey here - with information analysed by researchers at the University of Bristol.
The survey closes on Thursday, December 29.