The Bishops of Barking, Edmonton, Stepney, Croydon and Woolwich wrote a letter to Alok Sharma, urging him to back the Newham property licencing scheme.
The Bishop of Woolwich, Rt Rev Woyin Karowei Dorgu told Premier why the Bishops decided to join forces.
He said: “We felt that it’s our responsibility because it’s one of the priorities of the ministry of the Bishop to speak for the voiceless and to speak for those who are marginalised, oppressed and are suffering injustice in society as Jesus would do.”
The decision for the pioneering property licencing scheme in Newham is imminent and the scheme cannot roll further without backing from Mr Sharma.
Rt Rev Dorgu told Premier it is “very urgent” for tenants to be protected.
While the Bishops alongside leaders from community organising charity Citizens UK welcomed recent moves to tackle the rising problem of bad landlords, they delivered the letter as “more can be done by local councils and community leaders”.
They also claimed in their letter that there is evidence that landlords continue to get away with leaving tenants in shocking housing conditions.
Rt Rev Dorgu highlighted the problem to Premier.
He explained “In the face of making so much money and wealth out of the industry, we’ve also experienced such a widening of the gap between the rich and the poor.
“Some of the states in which these homes…exist, is just simply unacceptable.”
The Bishops’ letter was…
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