International Tenants Day 2016

Happy International Tenants Day readers!

This years theme asks Is control of rents outdated, or a necessity - worldwide?

International Union of Tenants' Secretary General Magnus Hammar offers some thoughts on the theme:

The regulation of rents has many names in different parts of the world; rent control, rent regulation, rent stabilisation, rent certainty, etc. But in reality, they all mean basically the same: The real goal of rent regulation is protecting the moral rights of occupancy. Long-term tenants who contributed to their homes being a desirable place to live have a legitimate interest in staying there.

Magnus Hammar of IUT speaking in Sydney, 2012

Rent regulation is a response to the power imbalance between landlords and tenants, which creates an opportunity for landlords to exploit tenants that certainly exists in tight housing markets. One of the most important benefits of rent regulation is that organizers can go and form tenant associations and have tenants to collectively take cations against landlords who arbitrarily increase rents, who send out illegal eviction notices, or who do not deal with leaks, mould or other insanitary conditions.

In the lead up to the 20th congress of the IUT in Scotland, they have also published a report from tenants' organisations around the world. It gives a taste of the different experiences, as well as the many common struggles, that affect tenants all over the world.

So from us to you, on this International Tenants Day, may your rent always be fair, your move never forced, and your Tenants' Union always strong!