As we all know house prices are putting home ownership out of reach of most people and by the end of 2021 it is predicted that almost one in four households will be renting privately.  Nowhere is this more acute than in London.

Most private landlords want to ‘do the right thing’ by their tenants but they often lack the knowledge or support to get this right. Other landlords make the most of the unregulated nature of the private rented market.  Too often West Norwood residents suffer with issues ranging from damp and mismanagement, to excessive lettings agent fees and unfair evictions.

A third of private rented homes fail to meet the Decent Homes Standard and stagnant wages cannot keep pace with spiralling rents. The housing benefit freeze mean many in the private rented sector now face a substantial monthly shortfall between the housing benefit they receive and even the cheapest rents.

A new group for private renters in West Norwood is being set up to share experiences, support each other, and campaign for change.  The first meeting is on Thursday 25 January at Knowles of Norwood, 294 - 296 Norwood Rd, SE27 9AF from 7pm, to talk about how to work together to improve the private rented sector and will be joined by a speaker from Generation Rent.