The Nationwide Foundation will award £800,000 of funding to support private rented sector tenants by giving them a ‘stronger voice’ in the debates on around housing in their area.
The charity says tenants should be a central part of any changes to the private rented sector, yet their voices are often absent and excluded from meaningful debate.
Organisations will use the funding to provide tenants with greater access to information and advice on the private rented sector, enhanced understanding of their rights, safe places to come together, support to speak up and opportunities to work together.
The Nationwide Foundation’s tenants’ voice programme currently supports projects that specifically help tenants whose personal circumstances – such as low-income, disadvantaged and vulnerable households – mean that they cannot avoid the potential problems of living in the private rented sector.
Last month, a report by the youth homelessness charity Centrepoint found that young people are increasingly reliant on the private rental sector, where they face higher housing costs despite relying on more precarious incomes.
The seven funded organisations are:
The Nationwide Foundation’s programme manager, Bridget Young, said: ‘Too often the voices of private tenants, especially those on low incomes or facing other disadvantages, are not sought or heard.
‘There’s real appetite to grow an energetic, purposeful tenants’ voice movement, and we hope this funding will lead to tenants becoming a normal and expected part of the advisory process.
‘Giving tenants the freedom and space to have stronger voices in debates on the private rented sector and housing, will mean positive changes in policy and practice, including better rights for tenants.’