Generation Rent continues love-in with Starmer government

The Generation Rent activist group is continuing to support the new Labour government – this time by backing its new employment proposals.

it already says how it favours Labour’s Renters Rights Bill over previous Tory proposals.

Now the group, dedicated to tenants’ interests, also says: “It is so important that we fight for better working rights, as well as housing and renting rights, in our mission for every private tenant to access a safe, secure and affordable home.”

Generation Rent has teamed up with union UNISON and claims that working private renters “too often” struggle to find good quality accommodation; worry “constantly” about the threat of eviction; fights against disrepair, damp, mould, dangerous conditions and other issues with standards; and experience “bad or even illegal treatment from their landlords and letting agents.”

So it says it backs the main elements of the new Employment Rights Bill. 

• An end to the practice of fire and rehire – “Employers cannot sack employees and rehire them on worse terms and conditions. However, there is an exception to this.  Businesses at risk of complete collapse may be able to alter terms and conditions if it is the difference between going bust” says Generation Rent;

• Workers won’t be forced to accept zero-hours contracts – “Employers will have to give their employees the option of a guaranteed-hours contract if they work regular hours over a defined period (which is likely to be 12 weeks as this is what Labour originally said)”;

• Day one dismissal protections– “Where workers have previously had to wait two years to qualify for protection from unfair dismissal, they will now get these protections from their first day of employment”;

• Better sick pay – “Workers will get rights to sick pay from the first day of their employment, rather than from day four. There will be a universal entitlement to sick pay, where under the current system, an employee must earn an average of at least £123 a week”;

• Higher wages– “The government also plans to change the remit of the Low Pay Commission so it must take into account the cost of living when setting the minimum wage. It also intends to remove all the age bands that set a lower minimum wage for younger staff, meaning that young people across the country will see their incomes rise.” 

This article is taken from Landlord Today