Thousands to march in London as housing protest targets rents and shortages

This Saturday, April 18, at 1 PM, thousands of tenants are expected to take to the streets of London for the National Housing Demonstration, supported by major trade unions and the Green Party.

More than 80 organisations are coming together for this event, marking the largest protest for affordable housing in over a decade.

Unite the Union, the National Education Union (NEU), and the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) are among the groups collaborating with the Green Party, the London Renters Union, the Greater Manchester Tenants Union, and housing campaigners from across the country.

They are uniting to demand rent controls and high-quality, accessible council homes.

Protesters will gather at Soho Square Gardens before marching through the streets of London. At the conclusion of the protest, speeches will be delivered by Jeremy Corbyn MP, Green Party politicians, trade union representatives, and grassroots housing activists.

Since the pandemic, rents outside of London have risen by over 40%. Rents now consume the highest percentage of earnings on record, and 1.3 million households have been waiting over a decade for social housing. A record number of children are stuck in temporary accommodations, often living out of suitcases in conditions that are unsafe and overcrowded. Those who do secure social housing face annual rent increases and deteriorating living conditions.

Although the Renters’ Rights Act is set to take effect on May 1, the government is failing to address rising rents and the severe shortage of social housing. Their plan to grant more powers to private developers may lead to even higher private rental prices, which will burden local residents.

While the government neglects renters, the far-right is exploiting the housing crisis. Migrants are targeted by a misleading campaign that seeks to convince the public that British nationals are being sidelined in housing allocations.

In response to the worsening housing crisis and the rise of the far-right, thousands of tenants from across the country are coming together to demand nationwide rent controls and good-quality, accessible council homes.

Rent controls are common in various European countries and have recently been established by tenants in Scotland. This policy is backed by the Green Party and Plaid Cymru.

While rent controls can take different forms, tenants on Saturday are calling for regulations that apply to properties both during and between tenancies, with the goal of gradually reducing rents.

Elyem Chej, Spokesperson for London Renters Union, said: “Tenants need an alternative to our rigged housing system. Soaring rents are pushing us into poverty and out of our neighbourhoods while corporate giants build luxury flats we can’t afford. Keir Starmer’s government is making the housing crisis worse, cosying up to private developers and selling out our communities. That’s why unions and grassroots groups nationwide are uniting for housing justice on the 18th April. Rent controls would cut rents now and give ordinary people more control over our lives and our homes. We had these rights before. Now it’s time for renters to take them back.”

Martin Wicks, Spokesperson for Defend Council Housing, said: “The government’s strategy of planning liberalisation and reliance on the large volume private builders is doomed to fail. Home ownership is not an option for the more than 130,000 households in temporary accommodation, the 1.3 million households on the waiting lists, and many more imprisoned in the expensive and often poor quality private sector. Social rent council housing is key to resolving the housing crisis. The government needs to fund 100,000 social rent council homes a year and end Right to Buy. We need a housing policy at the service of social needs. Market mechanisms will never resolve the housing crisis.”