Bristol renters share

from South Gloucestershire Direct Local November 2022

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BRISTOL’S RENTERS SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCES

People in the city are able to share their experiences of renting from a private landlord or letting agent in Bristol. A new survey asks renters to share information about their experience of renting in Bristol, and this information will be used to inform the work of the Living Rent Commission. The commission, which is made up of representatives from across the housing sector including renters, is exploring the issues facing people who rent and options to tackle the rent crisis in the city, ultimately looking at how Bristol can become a living rent city, without having a negative impact on the quality or availability of rental property. Councillor Tom Renhard, Cabinet Member for Housing Delivery and Homes, said: “In Bristol we face a housing crisis. We have more than 18,000 households on our waiting list for social housing, along with over 1,100 households in temporary accommodation. The cost of renting in this city is one key cause alongside the lack of security that renters have in the private rented sector. This is why we set up the Living Rent Commission. “The powers needed to ensure the rental market is accessible and works for all do not exist. The powers come from government, so we want to work with Westminster on policy development to reform the private rented sector, enabling Bristol to become a Living Rent City.

“I would ask everyone with experience of renting in Bristol in the last five years to consider taking part in the survey. Your answers will help us to understand what renters are experiencing in the private rented sector in the city and help inform the work of the commission.”

The Living Rent Commission was launched in July 2022 following a Renters’ Summit which took place in March.

The principle aims of the commission are to:

• Improve affordability of the private rented sector

• Understand the impact of regulation on rent prices including on housing quality and maintenance • Identifying the most effective rent controls Consider what other powers are required Consider how to empower tenants’ rights Co-chair of the commission, Professor Alex Marsh from the University of Bristol, said: “The commission is a great opportunity to bring people together to identify policy changes and innovative actions that will improve the city's private rented sector. To do this we need a clear picture of tenants' current experiences of private renting and the problems they're facing. So, we're keen that as many tenants as possible complete our survey and tell us about their situation. All the information is being collected anonymously.” The survey has been extended until Sunday 13 November. You can take part here: https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/ BristolRentersSurvey/ The information provided will be analysed by researchers at the University of Bristol. This analysis will inform the work of the commission and its final report. The report will be published later this year.

Selling or renting? Do you need an EPC? Find out today.

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TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE UPGRADES TO SUPPORT FILTON ARENA PROJECT

More than £10 million will be spent on making improvements to traffic management and flow and to introduce new cycling routes that will help make the Arena and Brabazon community being built on the former Filton airfield site more accessible for residents, workers and eventgoers. The new developments, which will generate around 5,700 new homes and hundreds of jobs in construction and then operating the country’s third largest indoor arena, will be a major boost to the economy and vibrancy of South Gloucestershire, but it is vital that infrastructure keeps pace with that growth. The measures this new funding will deliver will keep people moving to and from, in and around the new comm unity and arena and are in addition to MetroWest rail improvements and the MetroBus extension.

The scheme will include, for example, cycle routes between the arena and Brentry and improved connections linking the arena, the Ring Road and the A38 to connect with Charlton Hayes, Frenchay, Stoke Gifford and Little Stoke. New traffic management systems will reduce congestion and delays on the network surrounding the Arena on non-event days and reduce the potential impact of people arriving and leaving when major events take place. Taken together, providing sustainable travel options and improving traffic flow and reducing congestion will improve local air quality and help reduce carbon emissions.

Other improvements are also being delivered by the developers and include improvements to local roads, a new footbridge across the railway line, bus infrastructure, on site cycle lanes, electric vehicle charging points, park and ride facilities and shuttle buses. The full business case, which will include greater detail of the schemes that will be involved and delivered ahead of the first event taking place, will be presented in January. The £7 million funding was approved by the West of England Combined Authority (WECA) Committee and adds to the £3 million funding already secured by South Gloucestershire Council, which will deliver the projects.

Councillor Toby Savage, Leader of South Gloucestershire Council, said: “The new community at Brabazon and the new arena will drive brownfield regeneration and revitalise this part of South Gloucestershire, delivering new homes for thousands, job opportunities for hundreds and put South Gloucestershire on the map for countless thousands who will attend concerts and other events here.

“With development underway, it is crucial that we can also deliver the infrastructure that will keep these projects moving and keep people moving in and around the site.

“People living in and around the area will be encouraged and able to walk and cycle, take the bus or the train and we are investing massively to make this an easy option for people. This is what building for the future can look like.”