Lilian Greenwood, MP for Nottingham South, has backed Labour’s plans for a better deal for those renting their homes privately.

In an Opposition Day debate in the House of Commons forced by Labour earlier this week, Lilian called on the Government to stand up for generation rent by backing Labour’s reform plans in a vote in Parliament.

The Conservatives and Lib Dems failed to back Labour’s reforms to the private rented sector to give the nine million people who rent greater stability and certainty by legislating for three year tenancies with a ceiling on rent increases and making renting more affordable by banning letting agent fees charged to tenants.

There are now more privately renting households in the city than there are households renting from the local authority or housing associations.  The next Labour government will act to ban letting agents’ fees for tenants, and will legislate to make three year tenancies with predictable rents the standard in the private rented sector to give people wo rent the certainty they need.

Speaking after the debate, Lilian said:Labour has also committed to getting 200,000 new homes built a year by 2020 so that more families can fulfil their dream of home ownership.

“Families who are renting in Nottingham are often worried about the prospect that their rent could jump up by a big amount from one year to the next.  They want to be able to settle down, put down roots and have peace of mind.

“While the Tory-led Government refuses to act, a Labour government will give families the security of a longer tenancy and predictable rents to stop excessive rises so that they can manage tight family finances and plan ahead.

“If you buy your home, most estate agents will not charge you fees, but people in Nottingham who rent are given no protection and they get charged £350 on average.  That’s a lot of money for a lot of people and that’s why Labour will legislate to ban these rip-off charges by letting agents.”