Are you renting privately? Is your home suitable and affordable?

The What

Welsh Government have launched a Green Paper consultation as they want to know your thoughts, as tenants on what a good quality, affordable home looks like.

Part 1: Adequate housing

They use the term ‘adequate housing’ and use seven criteria which are set out by the United Nations to define what ‘adequate’ means:

1. Security of tenure: you feel like you have legal protection against eviction and threats
2. Availability of services, materials, facilities and infrastructure: things like, heating, water supply and energy for cooking, etc
3. Affordability: the house shouldn’t be too expensive because it compromises you being able to afford food etc.
4. Habitability: there needs to be enough space and sufficient protection from the cold and damp to ensure your health isn’t threatened
5. Accessibility: the needs of marginalised groups are considered
6. Location: it needs to be to be close to employment opportunities, schools, childcare providers and not be located in polluted or dangerous areas
7. Cultural inadequacy: it needs to take into account the expression of cultural identity

They want to know if you think that this is something we should try and achieve in Wales and what you think they should do to achieve it and monitor those achievements.

Part 2: Affordability and fair rents

The Welsh Government want to achieve fairer rents in the private rented sector, especially for renters on lower income. There is no one universally accepted definition of ‘fair rent’, so the paper sets out a few options for rent control. For example: temporary rent freezes and rent breaks. For more information, see pages 27 – 31 of this document. These rent controls are based on examples from other countries. Your experiences are essential to creating sustainable and effective policies.

The Why

Why should you care?

Renting is getting more and more expensive. This is an opportunity to have your say and influence Welsh Governments thinking. There will be lots of different views on what rent policy should look like, including those of landlord organisations, so it couldn’t be more important for you, as renters, to have YOUR say.

For Welsh Government to create policies that are truly reflective of people’s experiences, they need to hear from the people themselves.

The How

There are a number of ways to have your say:

Option 1: Attend a Welsh Government Consultation Event

The Welsh Government have 3 events across Wales that you can attend and share your experiences.

To register for an event nearest to you please click on the relevant link below.

• Llandudno on 6th July at Venue Cymru, Penrhyn Crescent, Llandudno, LL30 1BB:

o 13:00 to 15:00 https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/660282271047

o 17:00 to 19:00 https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/660283444557

• Carmarthen on 20th July at The Halliwell Conference Centre, College Road, Carmarthen, SA31 3EP:

o 13:00 to 15:00 https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/660275310227

o 17:00 to 19:00 https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/660271739547

• Cardiff on 25th July at Sophia Gardens Cricket Ground, Sophia Walk, Pontcanna, CF11 9XR:

o 13:00 to 15:00 https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/658299319987

o 17:00 to 19:00 https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/660270265137

Option 2: Complete our survey in (Less than 5 mins)

TPAS Cymru and Single Parents Wales have partnered up to ensure that there is a platform for all private tenants to share their thoughts and experiences to help shape the future of Wales.

If you are unable to attend one of Welsh Governments events, but you would like to have a say, you can complete our short survey which will help shape our response to the Green Paper consultation: - https://tpascymru.questionpro.eu/greenpaper

Option 3: Attend our focus group in Cardiff.

We will also be delivering some focus groups with Single Parents Wales in July; dates yet to be confirmed, but if you are interested, please email your name to [email protected] with the subject as ‘Focus Group’.

Option 4: Respond to the consultation yourself.

If you follow this link to the Welsh Government consultation, there is an easy read version, as well as the full detailed document. If you would like any guidance, please don’t hesitate to contact us at TPAS Cymru