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The housing crisis is having a serious impact on young workers

Date: 24 March 2017 Shopworkers’ trade union Usdaw is taking the issue of a lack of affordable housing to the annual TUC Young Workers Conference, which starts tomorrow at Congress House in London and closes on Sunday.
Usdaw will be represented by a delegation of young members from across the UK and the union has submitted a motion which calls for:
  • The building of over one million new homes over five years.
  • More social housing available at affordable rents.
  • Rent controls in the private sector.
  • Improved security of tenure for private sector tenant.
  • An end to the housing benefit rules that discriminate against under-35s.
John Hannett – Usdaw General Secretary says: “The lack of affordable housing is leaving many young workers with no option but to rent privately; a sector characterised by high rents, hidden fees, short-term tenancies and the worry of eviction. Many suffer poor living conditions with a third of private rented homes failing to meet acceptable standards.

“The housing shortage has resulted in average house prices rising dramatically to around seven times average incomes, so it is becoming more difficult for young people to save for a deposit or to cover the costs of a mortgage.

“A catastrophic result of the crisis is the rising level of homelessness. More than 2,000 people a year will have no option other than sleeping rough. Young people are the most likely to be living in poverty with nearly half of those in homeless accommodation aged 16-24.

“We are campaigning for Government action to tackle this crisis. It is clear that much more must be done to protect the rights of young people and help them to be able to live in good, affordable housing.”

Notes for editors:

Usdaw (Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers) is the UK's fourth biggest trade union with nearly 430,000 members. Membership has increased by more than 17% in the last five years and by nearly a third in the last decade. Most Usdaw members work in the retail sector, but the Union also has many members in transport, distribution, food manufacturing, chemicals and other trades.

For Usdaw press releases visit: http://www.usdaw.org.uk/news and you can follow us on Twitter @UsdawUnion
 

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The official website of the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers