Kwajo Tweneboa, who has built a following by exposing unsafe homes and fighting for tenants’ rights, said families are ‘sick and tired’ of waiting for change
Housing campaigner Kwajo Tweneboa has warned Labour it could lose the next election if it fails to fix Britain’s broken housing system.
The activist, who has built a following by exposing unsafe homes and fighting for tenants rights, said families are “sick and tired” of waiting for change. He said that unsafe homes, spiralling rents and endless delays on repairs that have left millions in despair.
The Labour Government has spoken about the need for more social housing and safer conditions for renters. But Kwajo, 27, warned that rhetoric has not yet been matched by delivery.
“Winning the next election depends on them [Labour] delivering on tackling the housing crisis that we are facing as a country,” he told the Mirror.
READ MORE: Five million adults still living with their parents as housing crisis deepens
Labour has promised to scrap Section 21 “no-fault evictions” in the Renters’ Reform Bill, to stop landlords forcing out tenants without giving a reason. It has long been regarded as a leading driver of homelessness.
Kwajo warned the move will not solve the crisis on its own. “Section 21 was the biggest driver of homelessness,” he said. “We’ve got enough homeless kids in England to fill the O2 arena more than seven times over.”
“We’ve got 1.3 million people waiting for social housing and we’ve got people unable to afford renting in the private rented sector,” he explained. “So all of those points from Labour are really good. But I do still have worries and concerns about whether or not it goes far enough.”
One of his biggest concerns is whether councils can actually enforce the new rights. Under the reforms, local authorities would be expected to regulate landlords and crack down on poor conditions in the private rented sector.
But many councils are already stretched to breaking point with Birmingham City Council declaring bankruptcy last year. The Local Government Association has warned more could follow after over a decade of funding cuts.
“Local authorities, quite frankly, haven’t even got their own homes in order at the moment and I see this time and time again across the country,” he explained, “in fact, I would argue, in terms of the work that I receive – local authorities at the moment are the worst offenders.”
He said that unless the Government commits real cash, the reforms risk becoming another broken promise. “On the surface, it sounds really, really good. But when you look into the details, there are still some huge questions,” he said. “If it’s just written down and not followed up with action and investment, then it’s not worth the paper it’s written on.”
The Government has pledged to deliver more social housing and improve conditions for renters. But Kwajo warned that the rhetoric has not yet been matched by delivery.
“If the Government don’t get this right, then I really do believe that they can wave goodbye to winning the next general election, people up and down the country are sick and tired, and suffering because there is a lack of affordable, safe, and decent housing,” he said
“Housing needs to be treated as a priority and just can’t fall into the long grass like it has under previous governments.”
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said: “The Government inherited a serious housing crisis and we are taking urgent action to fix this through our plan to build 1.5 million homes.
“But this is not just about numbers – as the Housing Secretary has made clear – it’s about making sure everybody has a safe place to sleep at night and the keys to a proper home.
“We will give people secure, safe homes by bringing in Awaab’s Law for the social rented sector, clamping down on damp and mould and holding landlords to account, banning section 21 and getting more homes built.”
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