Link to this page: https://www.socialistparty.org.uk/issue/1092/30954
From The Socialist newspaper, 24 June 2020
Housing: act now to cancel Covid crisis rents and debt
Suzanne Muna, Unite union housing workers' branch and Shac
Private sector rents in England hit a record high of £700 a month as the country headed into coronavirus lockdown, according to figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Median rents in London were £1,425 per month. Six in ten renters have lost income in the pandemic, and arrears are mounting.
Tenant organisations are calling a day of action on Saturday 27 June to demand that rent be cancelled for the period of the crisis. This could prevent an avalanche of evictions when the current halt to eviction proceedings stops at the end of August.
Rent is already completely unaffordable, and tenants cannot afford back payments on top. Rent arrears built up during the crisis should be written off. "Can't pay, won't pay" is a fact, not just a slogan.
The London Renters Union (LRU) plans socially distanced protests and online events. In solidarity with the LRU, which represents private tenants, the Social Housing Action Campaign (Shac) intends to use the day of action to highlight the plight of housing association tenants. Shac was set up to unite people living and working in social housing or cooperatives to campaign on issues of common concern.
There is just no excuse for housing associations to initiate evictions on the basis of inability to pay. Before the pandemic, the sector was in excellent financial health, generating significant profits from rents and sales over a prolonged period.
Operating margins were at 25% on social housing lettings alone, and rent collection rates were 99.9%. Shac therefore demands that housing associations waive rents for those struggling financially, write off arrears, and avoid making evictions, even when courts reopen.
The size and finances of housing associations vary widely, and some co-ops and smaller associations will inevitably have tight margins. For these organisations, we should look to the government to underwrite housing association debt, as they did for the banks after the 2007-08 crash.
The government readily dipped into the public purse to provide a bailout of around £750 billion, including around £37 billion for RBS, Lloyds TSB and HBOS. This effectively nationalised the debt while allowing the banks to continue operating as distinct entities, retaining their own governance structures.
The same model could be used to support struggling associations and co-ops. Given the loss of social mission in the sector, any assistance must be bound to an increase in the democratic involvement of tenants, residents, and workers in the 'governance' (running) of the organisation.
The town of Ithaca in New York state has passed a resolution calling for the power to cancel rents to prevent a social catastrophe. Labour councils in Britain could do the same, and provide legal support to tenants fighting eviction. They should also implement a policy of cancelling rent during the crisis for council tenants.
Donate to the Socialist Party
Finance appeal
The coronavirus crisis has laid bare the class character of society in numerous ways. It is making clear to many that it is the working class that keeps society running, not the CEOs of major corporations.
The results of austerity have been graphically demonstrated as public services strain to cope with the crisis.
The government has now ripped up its 'austerity' mantra and turned to policies that not long ago were denounced as socialist. But after the corona crisis, it will try to make the working class pay for it, by trying to claw back what has been given.
- The Socialist Party's material is more vital than ever, so we can continue to report from workers who are fighting for better health and safety measures, against layoffs, for adequate staffing levels, etc.
- When the health crisis subsides, we must be ready for the stormy events ahead and the need to arm workers' movements with a socialist programme - one which puts the health and needs of humanity before the profits of a few.
Inevitably, during the crisis we have not been able to sell the Socialist and raise funds in the ways we normally would.
We therefore urgently appeal to all our viewers to donate to our Fighting Fund.
In The Socialist 24 June 2020:
Socialist Party news and analysis
Lifting the lockdown: workers must not pay the price
Victory for Royal Glamorgan A&E!
Housing: act now to cancel Covid crisis rents and debt
Over 30% of children living in poverty
Fight back to stop Tories scrapping protections for children in care
International aid: Johnson's pie in the sky
Reading workers' movement responds to knife attack
Black Lives Matter
Young people fighting back: Jobs and homes, not racism
Towards an anti-racist school curriculum
Black Lives Matter protests: week three
International socialist news and analysis
South Africa: Building jobs and living wage campaign
Wales
Tories sinking in Wales but no enthusiasm for Welsh Labour
Workplace news and analysis
Why you should come to NSSN conference
Fully fund schools - stand firm on safety
P&O: defend every job - nationalise the ferries
Workers need a 'new deal' - at least £12 an hour now!
Renationalisation of the probation service
Campaigns
It's time to join the Socialist Party
Selling the Socialist: we're back!
Fighting fund: help us smash our target!
Call for an increase in PIP due to Covid-19
Readers' opinion
A timely read about a pandemic that overwhelms society
Home | The Socialist 24 June 2020 | Join the Socialist Party
Subscribe | Donate | Audio | PDF | ebook