Acorn’s Push for Stronger Renters' Rights: A Nationwide Call to Action

This past weekend, Acorn—a grassroots renters’ rights organization—mobilized across the UK, calling on people to take action in support of stronger protections for renters. In a coordinated campaign spanning 30 cities, Acorn’s members rallied the public to write to their Members of Parliament (MPs), urging them to reinforce the Government’s Renters' Rights Bill, which is currently making its way through Parliament. With hopes of securing a fairer housing landscape, the group aims to intensify safeguards against exploitative practices by landlords and letting agents.

Why Acorn Says the Renters’ Rights Bill Needs More Teeth

Acorn has lauded the Renters' Rights Bill as a step in the right direction but insists that it still falls short of creating substantial change. The organization’s campaign materials acknowledge that the Bill offers a “great start,” yet stress the need for additional amendments to genuinely make a difference for renters. Acorn’s message is clear: for the Bill to truly address the housing crisis and prevent unfair treatment, it must go further.

To this end, Acorn has prepared a pre-written letter for supporters to send to their MPs, demanding specific additions to the legislation. The letter outlines five key reforms, each designed to tackle common issues faced by renters:

    - Lowering Barriers to Landlord Licensing: Requiring landlords to be licensed would help hold them accountable for the quality and safety of their rental properties.

   - Ending Illegal Evictions: Greater protections are needed to prevent landlords from unlawfully evicting tenants, especially in disputes where tenants are exercising their rights.

   - Making Renting Affordable: With rising rents squeezing many tenants, Acorn advocates for measures to ensure that housing remains within reach for the average renter.

   - Capping Rent in Advance: Acorn seeks to limit the amount of upfront rent that landlords can demand, which can often create unnecessary financial strain for tenants.

   - Allowing Rent Withholding for Disrepair: When serious disrepair issues go unaddressed, tenants should have the right to withhold rent to motivate landlords to take action.

Acorn’s letter also encourages MPs to voice these concerns with Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook or at the Bill’s Report Stage in Parliament, where changes to the legislation are considered.

Tangible Acts of Protest for Renters’ Rights

Beyond rallying public support, Acorn’s campaign has featured bold acts of direct action. Over the weekend, members from Acorn’s Brighton branch staged a sit-in at a letting agency, pressuring the company to complete overdue repairs on a rented property. Their intervention succeeded, demonstrating the effectiveness of collective action. In another instance, Acorn members disrupted a council meeting in Hackney, pressing local authorities to address neglected repairs in a council housing block. These actions underline Acorn’s commitment to advocating for renters not just through policy, but by intervening directly in cases of landlord negligence.

The organization also marked Halloween with a playful yet pointed message: “Scare your landlord…join Acorn.” The Halloween-themed campaign taps into the frustration and powerlessness many renters feel, encouraging them to come together to demand better conditions.

What’s Next for Acorn’s Campaign?

With its latest push, Acorn hopes to bring renters’ rights to the forefront of political discussion, urging MPs to commit to stronger protections within the Renters’ Rights Bill. By making it easier for everyday people to get involved, offering pre-written letters and clear demands, Acorn is transforming the fight for fair renting conditions into a national movement. The organization remains determined to keep the pressure on lawmakers until real, lasting change is secured for renters across the UK.