TUC Young Workers Housing Charter

The TUC Young Workers Forum have produced a Housing Charter for young people in the private rented sector.

The charter calls for urgent action by the government to address the housing crisis facing young people today and to strengthen tenants' rights and conditions by making private renting more affordable, secure and decent.

Consecutive governments have failed to meet the housing needs of young people, many of whom have been pushed into the private rented sector because of the shortage of housing -particularly social housing - and the un-affordability of homeownership. This has meant that young people under 35 - whether in work or not – are now the largest group (over 50%) living in the private rented sector.

Yet the private rented sector lacks effective regulation and young people face high rents and poor-quality accommodation, often in unsafe housing environments, and insecure tenancies.

Housing is therefore one of the biggest challenges facing young people. The TUC young Workers Forum will be approaching senior officials to ask them to endorse the Charter and are also asking individual young members to sign up to the Charter. The more supporters we have, the bigger the impact we can make in influencing politicians and decision makers to develop policies to make private renting more affordable, decent and secure.

Supporters can: 

• tweet a photo of their signed charter with a message to say: 'I support @TUCyoungworkers housing campaign';
• post photo of the signed Charter and a message of support on Facebook using #TUCYoungWorkers; 
• print out their signed charter and display as a poster for others to see. 
• Get key decision makers and opinion formers in local communities and beyond to support the Charter