Fair rent campaign taken to Parliament

3.50.16pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 13th Jul 2009

Pete Pattisson delivered the petition from Phoenix residents to Lib Dem Shadow Housing Minister Sarah Teather

Cllr Pete Pattisson took the campaign for fair rents for Phoenix tenants to Parliament this month, when he handed over a huge petition from Phoenix residents to the Lib Dem Shadow Housing Minister, Sarah Teather MP. The petition demanded that the Government help housing association tenants who have been hit by massive rent rises.

Rents in Lewisham were due to rise by 6%, but the Government stepped in at the last minute and offered cash to councils to keep the rent rise down to 3%. But this will only apply to council tenants, and not those who recently transferred to Phoenix.

"We are calling on the government to cough up to help local Phoenix tenants too. They were promised no rent rises above the level of council tenants, but once again this Labour Government has let us down."