• ASSEMBLY Member Anne Clarke is right to say that the government needs to intervene and come up with a package of measures that will help private renters who have been badly hit by the pandemic keep their homes, especially after the eviction ban came to an end on May 31, (Renters need protection from losing homes, June 17).

We also agree that renters need more protection, and to see assured shorthold tenancies being replaced by new, secure longer-term ones.

Key to providing greater security is the urgent need to get rid of section 21 “no-fault” evictions, and that is why we recently came together with 20 leading organisation that represent renters from across the country to form the Renters’ Reform Coalition. For more information see: rentersreformcoalition.co.uk.

The main purpose of the coalition is to influence the government’s Renters’ Reform Bill, where the changes required can be brought about by the introduction of legislation.

This will be no easy task, as we expect the landlords’ side and its supporters to oppose any measures that will help improve the lives of renters every step of the way.

Anne Clarke is also right to point out that local authorities have a key role to play in enforcing and improving housing standards, and we’re pleased to see that Camden Council has secured two banning orders against property agents who were previously fined over £70,000 for letting an unlicensed and unsafe home in King’s Cross.

Camden has now secured three of the four banning orders issued in the whole of London, including the capital’s first ever rogue landlord banning order.

This clearly shows us how much more enforcement work councils need to do to act against criminal landlords and agents who are operating without fear in their boroughs.

ROBERT TAYLOR
Camden Federation of Private Tenants
www.cfpt.org.uk