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IUT on Security of Tenure and Rent Stabilisation and Control: the public consultation is opened

Our friends of International Union of Tenants (IUT) have approved an important Position Paper on Security of Tenure and Rent Stabilisation and Control as contribution to the EU Urban Agenda Partnership for Affordable Housing.

The partnership just launched a public consultation to receive feedback on their proposed actions.

The IUT recommendations are concentrated in action 3.

>>> The IAI invite all the organisations of tenants to react on the public consultation , opened until the end of August by sending their comments and proposals to:

Barbara Steenbergen

International Union of Tenants (IUT)

Member of the Executive Committee

Head of EU liaison office

barbara.steenbergen@iut.nu

Cesare Ottolini

Global Coordinator of International Alliance of Inhabitants

global.coordinator.iai@habitants.org

 

Scope of this paper

In this paper on the issues of Security of Tenure (part I) and Rent Stabilisation and Control (part II) we present:

I. Definitions of and requirements necessary for Security of Tenure and Rent stabilisation and Rent Control

II. Bottlenecks

III. Best Practices

IV. Policy recommendations

In Summary

The Policy recommendations is a collective view of the members of the IUT and include the following recommendations:

  • IUT believes it is important that each country can choose the scope and design of social housing and the methods by which to regulate the rental market. National rules should therefore be recognised according to the principle of subsidiarity.
  • If EU funding, EIB loans, public funding, or other funding is provided to finance rental housing, urban renewal and energy efficient renovations measures, security of tenure and affordability should be binding conditions.
  • IUT advocates that unlimited contracts (rental contracts for an indefinite period) are the main rule in national practice, tenure laws and regulations, not the exception.
  • Local and regional governments must ensure that there is a sufficient supply of good quality and affordable housing, in regions where jobs are located.
  • Rent levels should be uncoupled from market rents.
  • Cities should set quota for social/public housing and keep the percentage above 30 per cent.
  • Building ground owned by cities and regional authorities should primarily be made available for social, public and not for profit rental housing project developments.
  • Governments need to create rent legislation, regulation and control and subsidies to secure affordability and secure tenure for those that cannot otherwise afford the rent. Conditions must also be imposed on such subsidies so that they cannot be capitalised.
  • National tenure laws must provide penalties for non-compliance with law.
  • Local and regional governments should contribute to the enforcement of national private tenure laws and regulations.
  • Codes of Conducts for Landlords should be introduced, similar to the European responsible Housing CSR code of conduct
  • It is, in effect, a barrier for mobility if tenants who want to move can only find a dwelling that carries a much higher rent. Tenants must have a choice in the affordable rental market.
  • Rents in newly built housing can be capped to avoid too large a difference in rent between old and new housing stock.
  • There should be neutrality of tenure in relation to owned and rented homes in the tax systems.
  • Shortage of housing should not be allowed to lead to rent increases that jeopardise security of tenure.
  • Shortage of housing construction should not lead to rent increases in existing stock.
  • Old rent caps should be reviewed since many were set when higher costs of borrowing prevailed.
  • Every country should have a low-cost tribunal system that handles conflicts between tenants and landlords.
  • Exceptions to legislation and rent control systems should be limited.
  • “Renovictions” i.e. evictions due to unaffordable renovations and unaffordable rent increases should be not be permitted. Suggestions as to how this can be achieved are provided below.
  • Tenants should have the opportunity to influence the scope and timing of renovations.
  • IUT supports the right of tenants to form coalitions to negotiate rents.
  • Local rules should be made and implemented to solve local problems.

Read here the Draft consultation paper for public feedback in summer 2018

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