The Dystopian Reality of being a Tenant in 2024 (no, it’s not 1984, but it may as well be)

The Dystopian Reality of being a Tenant in 2024 (no, it’s not 1984, but it may as well be)

It was a bitterly cold day in October as Tenant X joined the long queue outside the redbrick building. It was the first property to be listed to let for weeks and his heart almost stopped when he saw the notification.

His hands shook as he called the agent. He knew he had to be fast. They were quick to stop answering the phone. Too many enquiries, they claimed, overwhelmed the system.

He injected a hopeful bounce into his tone as the voice at the other end – the gatekeeper – grilled him on his prospects. No, he’d never been in debt. No, he’d not had a CCJ. Yes, he could provide a job reference. Yes, he was fully employed and could cover the entire rent and all bills. Yes, he could prove it.

Tenant X turned up his collar against the chill and eyeballed the competition. He’d dressed in his least creased clothes, he didn’t want them to know he was living out of a suitcase, on his best-friend’s sofa.

This wasn’t how he expected his life to turn out. Not now. Not at 37 years of age. He was meant to be in his prime, he had a decent salary and a permanent job in IT.

But he could find nowhere to live. They said it was a ‘Crisis’. ‘A National Emergency.’ That ‘Urgent Action’ Must. Be. Taken.

His last landlord had served him notice, had wanted to sell due to ‘government meddling’.

Tenant X knew his lack of housing was affecting his moods, his relationships. He didn’t want to get close to anyone, when he had nowhere to go.

He shuffled his feet to keep up with the line. He remembered how years ago he’d had the pick of the lot. His landlord had wooed him with promises of new vinyl on the kitchen floor.

It was a far cry from before, a long way to fall. Before they started Project Hate.

Tenant X reminisced the halcyon days – or maybe it was a dream – when furniture was included in a property to let. A bed. A sofa. A wardrobe and drawers, if lucky maybe even a flatscreen TV. All at an affordable price.

He stooped to unfurl his trousers, noticed the stiches fraying. He’d have replaced them by now, but the new Tenant Tax had hit his pay packet hard. The government had promised they’d level the playing field with the introduction of Section 24, but the extra tax on his landlord had landed straight at his door.

The letting agent smiled politely, but wagged her finger he’d have to wait. He watched on as twenty people ahead surged into the room meant for one.

This was the New World Order: Rationing of space. And places to live.

Tenant X closed his eyes and said a small prayer: Please God, or Buddha, or whoever you are, please just today, let me find somewhere to live.

* * * * *

– In 2014, the median rent in England was £595 per month. In 2024, the median rent was £1319 per month.

– In 2015, George Osborne announced private landlords would no longer be able to claim full mortgage interest relief on the costs of a rental property (Section 24).

– In 2016, the 10% wear and tear allowance was scrapped.

– In 2017, the initial phasing in of the mortgage interest relief cut began.

– In 2020, the full roll out of the mortgage interest relief took effect and an emergency ban on evictions was temporarily introduced.

– In 2021, landlords could no longer deduct full mortgage interest expenses against their costs and interest rates spiralled.

– In 2022, rental prices spiked as landlords sold and left the market or face financial ruin.

– In 2023, rental prices continued to soar as supply dwindled and landlords continued to flee.

– In 2024, Labour announced housing was a top priority and introduced the Renters’ Rights Bill which would abolish Section 21 and the right for a landlord to gain possession of their property at ‘no fault’.

– In 2024, almost a fifth of all properties for sale were former rentals.

– In 2024, 1.3 million households were on the waiting list for social housing.

– In 2024, over 350,000 households were threatened with homelessness.

– In 2024, in the sixth biggest economy in the world, thousands of people sleep on the streets. 

* * * * *

Government policy has created our dystopian housing market. Private landlords have been the backbone to the functioning socially mobile rental economy for decades. Project Hate has forced landlords to flee, scuppered supply, hiked rents to record highs and made tenants homeless.

The housing crisis is of the government’s own making. Now it is time to start creating policies of Hope.