RLA work on promoting equality in PRS praised in Wales plenary

22 Feb 2019 04:40 PM

The RLA’s work with the Open Doors project in helping to promote equality in the private rented sector was praised by David Melding AM in the Plenary in Wales this week.

The Assembly Member for South Wales Central made the comments during a discussion about a new report published this week, by CIH Cymru and Tai Pawb, on private renting and mental health.

Speaking about the report, David Melding AM pointed out an example of a tenant developing a mental health issue as a result of rent arrears building up.

He noted that the area of vulnerable people in the private rented sector was an area of public policy which needed cross party support and development to meet modern trends and thought most landlords would jump at the chance to have such training to help them maintain long term tenants.

David Melding AM then asked for the Deputy Minister for Housing and Local Government to commend the work of the RLA in our efforts to reduce inequality and discrimination in the private rented sector.

Specifically, the Assembly Member was referring to the Open Doors project, which is a joint project being run by the RLA and charity Tai Pawb.

The project is a two year scheme set up in August 2017, and it aims to provide landlords and letting agents in the PRS as well as tenants from minority groups, with the knowledge, skills and confidence to prevents and also reduce discrimination. Last November, the project scooped a top CIH housing award.T

The Deputy Minister for Housing and Local Government joined David Melding AM in welcoming the report, and went on to praise efforts to tackle inequality and discrimination in the sector. She said it wasn’t just about taking the review on board for the tenants it was for landlords as well and would look at findings of the review with great interest.

This week, our Director for Wales Douglas Haig was on BBC Radio Wales discussing the report. You can listen again to the interview here. (Clip starts 1hr 46 mins in)