Digs have come together to campaign for a better deal for people renting in Hackney and beyond. We’re a private renter information, support and campaign group, run by Hackney renters, for Hackney renters.
Right now too many renters are facing:
- HUGE rent increases
- Rip-off letting agent fees
- Discrimination
- Poor quality housing
- Housing benefit shortfalls
- Bad treatment from landlords and letting agents
- Building a grass roots movement of renters calling for change
- Running information workshops for Hackney renters
- Giving mutual support to renters like us
- Training ‘Tenant champions’ across Hackney
- Creating an online platform of support
- Supporting other renters to set up groups in their own communities
1. The Market | That everyone have access to good, affordable housing that meets their needs.
2. Security of Tenure | Everyone has access to long term, secure homes
3. Landlord/ letting agent relations | Letting agents and landlords are regulated independently and tenants have accessible, effective mechanisms to enforce their rights. People are treated equally and with respect and honesty by landlords and agents who understand and fulfil their legal obligations. Renters always have accountability, transparency and recourse mechanisms to enforce their rights without penalisation.
4. Housing Standards | All rented homes are of a good standard and meet renters’ needs. Renters always have accountability, transparency and recourse to accessible, effective mechanisms to enforce their rights without penalisation.
Who do we support?
Digs support anyone who is renting privately in Hackney or who is homeless or insecurely housed and trying to find a home in Hackney’s private rented sector.
Digs has a monthly support group which meets on the last monday of every month, 7pm at Kingshold Community Centre, 49 Ainsworth Road E9 7JE. The support group is a space for people who are having current housing issues, those who want to see a change in the current system and digs members with a good knowledge of tenants rights to get together, chat, listen and support each other.
Get in touch
Email | hello@hackneyrenters.org
Twitter | twitter.com/Hackney_renters
Facebook | facebook.com/digs.hackneyrenters
Become a member
There is an obvious need for organisation of renters on leases with private landlords. My landlady needed two full months before she would even get the kitchen sink drain repaired, so i could wash up the dishes normally. Is this the standard in London, even in top rent areas? By the way the name of my landlady is Rosemary O’Mahony, apt 45 Little Adelphi, 10 John Adam street, Covent Garden, London WC2N 6HA. Perhaps a name and shame public website will have some effect….
Is this inclusive for people all around London? I know people who would love to get involved, aside from me. 🙂
Hey, thanks for getting in touch. Where are you in London? We’re local to Hackney but there are other groups around the UK we can hook you up with.
I have started renting in Covent Garden on 6/4/15 but the kitchen sink errator ( food dispossl mill) is out of order. Food remains start smelling now and creates an unhygienic mess. Polite requests to repair up to desparate calls have had no effect. Alarm does not work either and six lamps are outvfrom the start. Is there snything I csn do?
I would contact the environmental health department of your local council. But before this write a letter to your landlord requesting them to carry out the repair. There’s more information on this in the ‘Disrepair’ section of our website.
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This website truly has all the information I wanted
about this subject and didn’t know who to ask.