Will Barber-Taylor, digital campaigns officer at Generation Rent, which advocates for renters’ rights, says many are hesitant to even enter the market, and have been “forced to live in housing conditions that are beyond their means”. do not conform”.
This includes people living in relationships they want to leave and living in disarray because they fear they will be unable to find a new place.
“There has been a general decline in people’s lives,” he said.
The government has promised to introduce a long-awaited Renters Reform Bill this year that aims to improve conditions for tenants.
However, Hutchinson fears the regulations will reduce the number of rental properties.
Even though rent prices are high, Hutchinson says, landlords are reluctant to rent out properties because of regulations and high interest rates.
“At the moment the market doesn’t work for anyone.”
Discrimination
Paris Williams, 24, has been on the rental market for more than a year, and has faced practices she believes to be discriminatory, including being asked to share her LinkedIn profile.
Williams says discrimination is rampant right now as more landlords and prospective flatmates are “picking and choosing”.
According to Barber-Taylor, Generation Rent has seen an increase in discrimination against LGBTQ and ethnic minority renters in recent months.
He has also heard cases where tenants were asked for detailed descriptions and pictures. “It opens (the process) up for discrimination. Because why would they need pictures?”
After several negative experiences, Williams began to ask herself, “Is it because I’m black?”
Cheng also believes this, although she says she has not been directly confronted about her ethnicity.
“It’s difficult for everyone and for people of color … Some of the treatment made me question: What’s wrong, is this my culture?”