Generation Rent

Generation Rent 

The CWU has been working closely with campaign group Generation Rent to fulfil the objectives of Composite Motion 1 on housing, from this year’s conference. (attached for ease of reference).

 

It is fair to say that Generation Rent have been highly effective in mobilising public opinion on this issue. Their “Queens Speech on Housing”, sponsored by CWUYouth, was a comprehensive manifesto for change which has been followed up in a number of important ways and can be found at:-

 

Click to access cwu__1431418093_Generation_Rent_-_Queens_Speec.pdf

 

First, by Generation Rent’s own research into which parliamentary seats are most affected by those in rental accommodation – and thus which MPs are most susceptible to a co-ordinated campaign affecting this group.

 

Second, CWU facilitated discussions between the TUC and Generation Rent which in turn lead to a more formal partnership involving Generation Rent, Unison, Unite, GMB and ourselves to co-ordinate and drive housing policy within the TUC.

 

Third, Generation Rent facilitated the contact between ourselves and Karen Buck MP which directly lead to Karen’s Homes (Fit for Human Habitation) Bill being laid before Parliament, representing a real chance of significant regulation in the private rented sector for the first time

 

So it is with disappointment and concerns that we received the attached letter from Betsy Dillner, the Director of Generation Rent.

 

The situation is that Generation Rent’s main funding body has withdrawn their support on the basis that the organisation has not achieved charitable status.
They need approximately £65,000 in order to survive and to put in place alternative and stable funding arrangements.

 

However, there is also the suggestion that there has been some attempt to influence the Charity Commission by objections being lodged against the possibility of Generation Rent being accorded charitable status on the grounds that their work is too political.

 

As summarised above, as a union we have shared platforms with and sponsored publications from and been generally supportive of Generation Rent. There is no doubt that they have made a major contribution to the housing debate within Britain and have been effective in developing a narrative that is attracting increasing support. I do believe that we should support the organisation in the existential crisis that they now find themselves. Work in this area would be significantly diminished were they to disappear from the scene.

 

The NEC therefore agreed an exceptional donation, and authorised an appeal to branches to also support this appeal. Similar requests are being made to GMB, Unite and Unison, plus a number of other unions, as well as organisations such as Shelter and Crisis. A public appeal for funds can be viewed at

 

https://peoplesrepublic.co/p/generationrent  

 

and the main Generation Rent site is at

 

http://www.generationrent.org/

 

Branches are thanked in anticipation of their support for this important and effective organisation.

 

If you have any enquiries on this LTB, these should be addressed to the General Secretary’s Office at gsoffice@cwu.org quoting the reference GS 16.0 LTB 538/15.

 

Yours sincerely

 

​​​ ​​

 

Dave Ward​​​​​​

General Secretary