In the midst of the renting crisis currently affecting most of Britain, the Renters Reform Coalition (RRC) organised and hosted a Renters’ Day of Action in Westminster on 21 March 2023. The day aimed to connect renters from across the country and to offer advice sessions, workshops and meetings with MPs.

The RRC is a collection of 20 leading organisations involved in ‘supporting and representing private renters’, including Shelter, Crisis and Citizens Advice. Chaired by LAG’s CEO, Sue James, the coalition’s main message is to urge the government to scrap Housing Act 1988 s21 and end no-fault evictions.

The day of action was held at Church House, just metres away from Westminster Abbey and the Houses of Parliament. Throughout the day, while sessions were taking place, attendees were encouraged to meet with their MPs to advocate for changes to the forthcoming Renters’ Reform Bill. Many who got that opportunity told of how useful the experience had been. ‘It’s nice to feel you were listened to,’ said one person who asked not to be named.

While some people were meeting with their MPs, there were a number of informative and well-curated sessions taking place back at Church House. Renters’ rights advice sessions took place throughout the day, which offered attendees the chance to speak with lawyers and housing practitioners about their living situations. The sessions included helpful tips on dealing with no-fault evictions and dived into the legal technicalities of the Renters’ Reform Bill in order to help tenants to recognise their rights in disputes with private landlords.

The big billing for the day was saved for the end. Rachel Maclean, MP for Redditch and the current minister of state for housing and planning, was interviewed by Vicky Spratt, housing correspondent for the i newspaper. Spratt has been vocal in her criticism of the government for its lack of action in dealing with s21 evictions and therefore it was expected to be a heated discussion.

Actually, the conversation was cordial. Maclean announced that the government would be ending s21 evictions before the autumn and also that it would prioritise building affordable housing – a claim that was met with jeers from the crowd. Perhaps unsurprisingly, there was little warmth from the audience towards most of her promises, which have been made by other housing ministers in the past and then seemingly forgotten. Her defence of landlords also riled people up, as did her insistence that the chancellor’s lack of spending on housing was due to ‘serious demands on his purse strings’.

The crowd’s frustration only got worse as very few people were allowed to ask questions and there was heckling as Maclean left the room. Although it ended on something of a low note, Tom Darling, campaign manager for RRC, deemed the day a success overall: ‘The RRC’s Renters’ Day of Action was one of the largest coordinated political actions ever taken by private renters in the UK. [It showed] the power of renters’ voices when we speak collectively.’