A lobbying group for renters’ rights is hoping to persuade MPs to make the Government’s renting reform legislation regulated landlords even harder.

Acorn took to the streets in 30 cities across the UK over the weekend urging people to send a letter to their local MP.

Promotional material for the campaign says that although the Renters' Rights Bill in its current form “is a great start…if it's going to deliver the change we really need it must be made stronger! Email your MP to fight for amendments to the bill!”.

The pro-forma letter Acorn is asking that people send to their local MP asks for five more measures to be added to the Bill. These include increasing property licencing, ending illegal evictions, making renting affordable, capping rent in advance and giving tenants a right to withhold rent for serious disrepair.

The letter also urges MPs to write or talk to Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook, or speak up at Report Stage in support of including Acorn’s provisions within the bill.

Repairs

The organisation also revealed over the weekend that members of its Brighton branch had forced a letting agency to complete repairs on a house after staging a ‘sit in’ at the firm’s offices.

Acorn, which has been ramping up its ‘direct’ action activity in recent months as the Renters’ Rights Bill has entered parliament, also said it had disrupted a council meeting in Hackney to persuade the London borough to complete repairs at a council block.

It also launched a Halloween-themed campaign telling renters to ‘scare your landlord… join Acorn”.