London renters survey by London Assembly Member Siân Berry

Guest blog post

Take part in my Big Renters Survey

My flat’s toilet is never properly fixed by my landlord and has just broken again. I’ve shelled out more than half my pay in rent and lived in six different houses and flats since I moved to London.

As a private renter, like 2.3 million other Londoners, I know that the insecurity, cost and lack of control over your living arrangements can take its toll.

When I launched my policy to support a London Renters Union during the campaign to be Mayor this year it was by far the most popular idea I have ever put forward.

Now, as a London Assembly Member I’m launching a major project to collect evidence, views and stories from renters on the crisis in London’s private renting market, and how a union could help individuals fight their corner and improve rights for renters across the city.

If you are – or have ever been – a private renter in London, please take three minutes to fill in my Big Renters Survey today.

Tell me about your repair nightmares, how you’ve been treated by landlords and letting agents, and how you think a renters union could help.

Share the survey with your friends and help me get the best evidence and the widest range of views to push the Mayor and the Government for better rights and better support for private renters like me.

START THE BIG RENTERS SURVEY

More of my work on renting in London:

• Success as Mayor agrees to look at real living rents for women and students
• How hard is renting now in your borough?
• Statement on the budget as landlord tax breaks continue
• The London Renters Union: helping 2.3 million Londoners stand together

More housing news from me

"Make sure you have your say on Mayor’s pollution proposals" — Caroline Russell, London Assembly Member

Caroline Russell is one of two London Assembly Members represented by Proportional Representation to represent all of London for the Green Party of England & Wales. As she and the other Green Party London Assembly Member Siân Berry operate to 'hold the London Mayor to account', one of Caroline Russell's main responsibilities is tackling air pollution.

Air pollution has obvious health and safety implications for people in general, especially for people with respiratory problems. Cyclists and pedestrians, too, of course! Caroline Russell AM (Assembly Member) writes:

Make sure you have your say on Mayor’s pollution proposals

The Mayor of London has recently announced an initial consultation on new charges on the most polluting cars in central London and the expansion of the proposed Ultra Low Emission Zone across the whole of inner London up to the boundaries of the North and South Circular. Make sure you have your say. The deadline for public responses is Friday 29th July 2016.

Read my consultation response.

The Mayor’s proposals include:

• bringing the implementation of the central London Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) forward by one year to 2019
• expanding the ULEZ beyond central London in 2020
• introducing a new Emissions Surcharge from 2017 for the most polluting vehicles entering central London
• giving TfL the go-ahead to start looking at a diesel scrappage scheme as part of a wider national scheme run by the government
• keeping Londoners better informed and alerted when pollution is at its worst
• making sure TfL leads by example by cleaning up its bus fleet and buying only hybrid or zero emission double-decker buses from 2018.

The Mayor will undertake a further, more detailed consultation later this year.

No more delays on clean air

My overriding concern is to ensure the new Mayor of London takes the range of actions necessary to deliver safe breathable air for all Londoners and to bring London’s air within legal limits in the shortest time possible, and by 2020 at the latest....

More at https://www.london.gov.uk/node/33528