News / Politics
Lettings charter adopted by council
City mayor George Ferguson chose to adopt a new Ethical Letting Charter in the council’s bid to improve private rental conditions.
The mayor and fellow councillors were met by about 30 protesters outside At-Bristol, where a cabinet meeting was held on Tuesday night.
By adopting the charter, produced by Acorn and supported by all parties, the city council will guarantee its own properties meet a minimum requirement and encourage private landlords to follow suit.
Ferguson defended the private sector in general, but acknowledged “in some places, it is basically pretty bad. And that’s probably kind to some”.
He added: “It’s absolutely right we should do everything we can to ensure a more ethical approach to the private sector.”
Acorn, formed in Easton in May 2014, produced the charter in response to rising rental prices and falling conditions in high demand areas like East Bristol.
A city council report says that 75 per cent of properties inspected in its discretionary licensing zone around Stapleton Road are “not decent”.
Local authorities and letting agents who sign the charter commit to one of three levels of minimum standards – from Bronze to Gold – which include guarantees about security, transparency, low costs and quality of property. A final copy of the charter will be published soon.
By adopting the charter, the council also allows Acorn to use their logo when encouraging more agents to sign up. To make guidelines on the Ethical Lettings Charter a statutory obligation, it would require law change at Government level.
Nick Ballard, organiser at Acorn, said one letting agent had already signed up and two have agreed in principal.
He added: “Our next step will be to request that George Ferguson proactively pursue letting agents, asking them to sign up.”
Anna McMullen, housing campaigner and Green Councillor, asked the mayor to commit to promoting the charter.
Ferguson said: “We will do all we can to help Acorn in a spirit of partnership.”
He congratulated Acorn in their succesful campaign and added: “There’s one thing that absolutely riles me and that’s misuse by some landlords of the deposit system.
“We must all unite to reduce that exploitation sometimes on the people who can least afford it. We need to campaign.”
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