Generation Rent appeals for crowdfunding contributions

Campaign group Generation Rent has launched a crowdfunding campaign to raise £60,000 to keep the organisation going.

The crowdfunding push follows an unexpected funding cut which jeopardises the organisation’s future beyond September.

Generation Rent has been funded since January 2014 and launched two months later. Since then it has pushed renters’ rights and rent control up the political agenda and campaigned for a ban on revenge evictions, letting agent regulation and cuts to landlord tax breaks.

The group says its work is “far from over”. The funding was originally due to run out in spring 2016 and the campaign is already applying for grant funding elsewhere.

Generation Rent is trying to raise £60,000 by 31 August on crowdfunding platform People’s Republic. If it fails to do so it will have to lay off all staff and will cease to function. It has been seeking donations from organisational partners and has already received a pledge of £5,000.

The money, if raised, will enable Generation Rent to continue its work putting pressure on Parliament, London Mayoral candidates and local government to improve conditions for renters, while securing grant funding to keep it running beyond next spring.

Betsy Dillner, director of Generation Rent, said: “This cut has come as a shock and our young campaign is now facing oblivion. Without us, private renters will no longer have a national voice in the media and political debate, and their prospect of a rented sector that works for them will ebb away. The housing crisis is not going away anytime soon, but with the generosity of the public, neither will Generation Rent.”

We're excited to announce that we're working on building a shiny new website for readers of Landlord Today! As part of this process, commenting on articles will be temporarily disabled. We look forward to sharing our new and improved Landlord Today website with you shortly!