Generation Rent has appointed charity boss Ben Twomey as its new director, replacing Baroness Alicia Kennedy.

Twomey joins the campaigning group from his current role as director of policy and communications at the National Youth Advocacy Service and has promised to lead Generation Rent’s efforts to secure better rights and protections for the UK’s private renters.

The group believes its long-running campaigns around abolishing Section 21 evictions and introducing a national registration scheme for landlords in England encouraged the government to announce the Renters Reform Bill, which Twomey says is a huge opportunity to transform renting at such a critical time.

“There’s still a lot of work to be done to make sure it delivers real improvements in the lives of those of us whose only option is to rent,” he adds.

Deepens

“As the cost-of-living crisis deepens, I will be making the case that everyone deserves to live in a safe, secure, and affordable home.

"I look forward to working with the team at Generation Rent to build on their achievements and keep making renters’ voices heard in the corridors of power.”

Generation Rent’s outgoing director, Baroness Alicia Kennedy, says: “I am immensely proud of what the team has achieved in the past three years.

"The organisation is in a very strong place to continue leading the public debate on renting and I know Ben will do a fantastic job in the months and years ahead.”