Gary Clarke
The concerns of social tenants in Cheltenham are growing due to Cheltenham Borough Council’s responses to a public question about the number of empty council homes and the associated financial impacts, which appear to leave out key details and leave renters seeking further clarity. The question, submitted by former
Why We Exist The Cheltenham Tenants Union does not blame individuals. We focus on the system that has evolved to reward landlords and asset-owners while leaving tenants overstretched. Our role is to help tenants use their collective power to change that balance. What’s Driving the Problem Locally The University
In Cheltenham, soaring rental prices are creating a hidden health crisis: damp and mould in private rental properties. When tenants spend 30-50% of their income on rent, they face impossible choices between paying bills and maintaining adequate heating and ventilation. This creates the perfect conditions for damp and mould growth,
Murphy's analysis traces rent poverty directly to the dismantling of 1970s tenant protections, showing how deregulation transformed homes from stable shelters into speculative investments. Watch the video on youtube here. The Historical Context The Rent Act 1977 once provided crucial balance between tenants and landlords through security of