22^nd Oct 2018

A trade body is claiming that when Brexit happens, EU citizens living in the UK may face the hardships and difficulties that the Windrush generation suffered.

The body has written to Sajid David, the Home Secretary, demanding that all EU citizens living in the UK must be given a hard copy document that officially provides their status having the Right to Rent after Brexit.

The body has joined with the campaign group ‘the3million’, a movement that 'represents' the three million EU citizens who are residing in the UK. It warns that landlords who are having, in effect, to be Immigration Control outreach centres, may just play it safe and refuse to house EU citizens because of the present turmoil surrounding Brexit.

The body's research department discovered that in 2017 because of Right to Rent, 42% of landlords were and are deciding against renting to anyone without a British passport to just 'cover' their backs.

The letter which was sent to the Home Secretary was signed by the trade body and the head of the campaign group and here are some of sections taken from the letter:

“Without issuing a clear and understandable hard copy document to those whose rights would be protected, there is a very real danger of a repeat of the difficulties caused for many in the Windrush generation who were in the country legally but unable to easily prove it.

“Such a document must be issued now so that, as tenancies come up for renewal between now and next March, landlords can be confident that they can continue to let to EU citizens, even in the event of a no-deal Brexit.”

“Without issuing a clear and understandable hard copy document to those whose rights would be protected, there is a very real danger of a repeat of the difficulties caused for many in the Windrush Generation who were in the country legally but unable to easily prove it.

“Such a document must be issued now so that, as tenancies come up for renewal between now and next March, landlords can be confident that they can continue to let to EU citizens, even in the event of a no deal Brexit.”

The letter has also been sent to the Immigration Minister Caroline Nokes, Housing Minister Kit Malthouse MP and of course the Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab and included these questions:

• In the event of a no deal Brexit, without a transition period, what would be the status of an EU citizen who came to the country now? Would they have to leave by the end of March? Without urgent clarity landlords will not know whether or not they are able to rent a property to them with the expectation that they will be able to see out a tenancy.

• In the event of a transition period being agreed from the end of March, and in light of the government suggesting it might legislate for three-year tenancies in the sector, would landlords be required to offer three year tenancies, or would they only be obligated to offer them until the end of a transition period?

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