Anti-Landlord group is part of Labour teach-in for renters

A local authority’s teach-in for private tenants this weekend is to be addressed by a group which is known for its anti-landlord campaigning.

Cambridge’s Labour council is hosting a free advice forum on Saturday, open to all tenants who live in privately rented accommodation in the city.

It’s billed as an opportunity for tenants to meet representatives from the council and what it calls “other service providers” - this includes Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue, Cambridge University Students’ Union and more controversially the Acorn tenants union. 

Acorn has for some years held protests outside and inside some letting agents’ offices, and in 2022 Sheffield landlord Zobia Rafique was awarded almost £100,000 in costs and damages after Acorn - in the words of the Yorkshire Examiner website - “hounded her for months, threatened her and filmed her at her home.”

In recent days the group has tweeted opposition to a raft of policy initiatives by political parties, with particular attention to Labour, saying: “Housing may have been central to Keir Starmer’s keynote speech … but for all his tough rhetoric on the issue, Labour are offering solutions to the housing crisis that will not materialise for years, if ever at all.” 

And it goes on to say: “It is clear we can’t rely on politicians to gift us what we need. Now more than ever we need a strong renters’ movement to force the change we need.” The group does not explain on social media what it means by “force”.

This weekend’s event by Cambridge council will include - in the authority’s words - “an opportunity to chat informally with the different organisations’ representatives, report any concerns to council officers in confidence.”

Councillor Gerri Bird, executive councillor for Housing and Homelessness, says: “The council is committed to supporting the large number of private tenants we have in Cambridge. We live in a city with a very mobile population that needs safe and comfortable living accommodation.

“The council already works hard to support private renters, with teams on hand to respond to any concerns that tenants raise with us and to investigate any issues on a case by case basis. This, along with events for tenants and landlords alike, forms an important part of our work to drive up housing standards in Cambridge’s private sector.”

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