Brixton branch of Foxtons hires bouncers for rents protest
Tony Gosling
tony at cultureshop.org.uk
Wed May 15 00:34:51 BST 2013
Brixton branch of Foxtons hires bouncers for rents protest
Written by Tim Dickens on April 30, 2013 in Community, Housing, News,
Uncategorized - 11 Comments
http://www.brixtonblog.com/brixton-branch-of-foxtons-hires-bouncers-for-rents-protest/11959
Protesters and security guards outside Foxtons
Estate agents Foxtons hired two security guards on Saturday as
protestors in Brixton campaigned outside against high rents.
Private tenants and members of the campaign group 'Let Down'
undertook a 'Community Housing Inspection' in Brixton, visiting Eden
Harper, Foxtons and Haart to question their charges and practices as
part of a London-wide day of action against high rents and letting
agents' fees.
While staff at Eden Harper were willing to answer the group's
questions, Brixton new-comers Foxtons had hired private security
guards to prevent the campaigners entering their office.
When asked whether a member of Foxtons' staff would come out to speak
to the group, the protesters were told that no one from the lettings
team was available, despite the group returning later in the
afternoon. The protest ended with the protesters staging an 'awards
ceremony' outside Foxtons, presenting them with a certificate for
being 'Brixton's worst letting agent', accused of 'high fees, high
rents, cowardly behaviour, and services to gentrification', and
'celebrating' with party poppers, bubbly and a performance of a
specially-written song.
Protesters present Foxtons with 'worst letting agent' certificate
Campaigner Daniel Oldfield said: "Despite the dismal state of our
economy and the relentless cuts, rents keep rocketing up and letting
agents are making things worse. They often actively advise landlords
to put up rents and charge all kinds of fees, most of which have only
emerged in the last few years in the so called 'competitive' marketplace.
"Short-term tenancies suit them because then people have to keep
moving paying fees to renew them. This lack of security especially
hurts families because children who move around a lot are more likely
to struggle at school. Perhaps worst of all, hardly any privately
rented rooms are available to young people on benefits, directly
making more people homeless."
The private tenancy sector has grown in the last few years, as
chronic underinvestment in social housing, the poor economic climate
and an overcrowded housing market have meant that fewer people are
able to access social housing or buy a house, and the number of
buy-to-let landlords has soared. In particular, the proportion of
families with children renting privately has rapidly increased.
The day of action was part of a London-wide campaign, which demands
lower rents, an end to fees for tenants (which are illegal in
Scotland), proper regulation of letting agents, no discrimination
against people on housing benefit, and longer and more secure tenancies.
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Fear not therefore: for there is nothing covered that shall not be
revealed; and nothing hid that shall not be made known. What I tell
you in darkness, that speak ye in the light and what ye hear in the
ear, that preach ye upon the housetops. Matthew 10:26-27
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