Are you ready to join 40 000 Cheltenham tenants to drive down your rent?
Are you a renter in Cheltenham struggling with skyrocketing rents, poor-quality housing, and the constant fear of eviction? You're not alone. Can you believe you’re one of 40,000 people who live in Cheltenham rented homes.
A recent survey by the Cheltenham Tenant Union revealed that eviction is the biggest worry for private renters in our town. Take it yourself
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1GL7SFfKPZflIPPb_QNKbxNDaQsYMn6IdIrbUSSuZ698/edit
This fear has forced many to accept rent increases they can barely afford, even when faced with damp, mould, and rundown conditions.
Meanwhile, Cheltenham Borough Council seems content to watch from the sidelines. They have the power to help, but haven't used it effectively. The result? Rocketing rents, key workers priced out of the town, and a shrinking local economy.
They claim to promote affordable housing, yet only managed just over a measly 100 homes in recent years. This is a drop in the bucket compared to the 12,000 private rented properties in Cheltenham, where last year alone rents rose 10%.
The Council is ignoring the major factors distorting our housing market:
- The university: Thousands of students strain the rental market, competing with families and key workers for limited properties.
- Short-term lets: Platforms like Airbnb take away family homes, leaving fewer options for long-term renters.
Our investigation reveals a potential for 1,500 properties to be released back into the long-term rental market:
- Student housing: Encourage the university to use its land to build dedicated student accommodation!
- Short-term lets: We need stricter regulations and oversight of short-term rentals.
The Council needs to take action! They should:
- Register, license and monitor short-term lets.
- Level the playing field and make sure HMRC know landlords who should declare their tax.
- Hold the university accountable for its impact on the housing market.
- Prioritize high-density student housing on undeveloped land.
Lone renters are easy to ignore, but imagine the power of 40 000 banding together. 40 000 emails to each authority figure. 40000 letters to people in influence. 40 000 votes decided on rental issues.
Join the fight for a fairer Cheltenham!
Subscribe to the Cheltenham Tenant Union newsletter (link here) and become a member. Together, we can raise our voices and demand change! Let's make Cheltenham a town where everyone can afford a decent, secure home.
Don't wait – subscribe today!
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