Activists in Oxford have voiced serious concerns over the city’s handling of poor housing conditions in the private rental sector. They have accused the Labour-run city council of failing to protect tenants and “siding with criminal landlords,” sparking fresh debate about local housing enforcement.
The claims were made by Acorn, a renters’ union known for its grassroots campaigns. The group highlighted that in the past year alone, Oxford City Council received 430 formal complaints from private tenants regarding substandard housing conditions.
Despite the high volume of complaints, only 18 improvement notices were issued by the council during the same period. This means that less than 5% of reported issues resulted in any kind of formal enforcement action—a statistic Acorn describes as “deeply troubling.”
The situation becomes more concerning when looking at the council’s enforcement record over a longer timeframe. According to Acorn, not a single landlord has been prosecuted by Oxford City Council in the past three years, suggesting a trend of weak follow-through on housing issues.
In response to the criticism, the council has defended its approach, stating that it uses a “range of tools” to oversee the private rental sector and improve housing standards across the city. These tools include inspections, informal notices, guidance for landlords, and partnership work.
However, Acorn and its members believe that these so-called tools are ineffective when not backed by decisive legal action. They argue that relying too heavily on informal notices allows irresponsible landlords to ignore their obligations without facing real consequences.
The union is calling for a much tougher stance. They are urging the council to issue formal improvement notices immediately when serious complaints arise, impose the maximum fines available, and refuse to renew licences for landlords who fail to meet minimum housing standards.
The issue has now gained political traction. The Green Party has voiced its support for Acorn’s protest and has turned the campaign into a party-political issue. A Green Party spokesperson told the Oxford Mail that the city’s Labour leadership had “only prosecuted a handful of landlords in the last five years.”
The Greens argue that this lack of action reflects a broader failure to prioritise the safety and wellbeing of Oxford’s renters. They have long called for increased funding to support housing enforcement teams, enabling them to carry out more inspections and take firmer action.
An Acorn representative shared harrowing stories from members who have had to endure appalling living conditions. They described instances of tenants living in properties with serious damp, persistent mould, and even collapsing ceilings, all without proper response from their landlords.
In addition to poor conditions, many renters have reportedly experienced revenge evictions. This occurs when tenants are served with ‘no-fault’ eviction notices—often just after they raise legitimate complaints about their housing, leaving them vulnerable and fearful of speaking out.
According to Acorn, Oxford City Council is falling short in its duty to safeguard renters. They claim the council is choosing to issue informal notices in many cases—even when the issues reported are severe—rather than using its full legal powers to compel landlords to make necessary repairs.
This soft approach, they argue, sends the wrong message to landlords. Without the threat of prosecution or meaningful penalties, some landlords may feel emboldened to continue providing substandard housing without fear of repercussion.
The union believes that issuing formal notices should be the default, not the exception. They say it is only through clear and consistent enforcement that the council can show it is serious about holding landlords accountable and protecting tenants from exploitation.
Ultimately, the activists believe that stronger enforcement, harsher penalties, and a refusal to tolerate poor practices are the only ways to improve the private rental sector in Oxford. The current system, in their view, leaves tenants exposed and unsupported.
As pressure mounts, both from housing campaigners and political opponents, Oxford City Council may need to reassess its enforcement strategy and take stronger, more visible action to address the concerns of its renting residents.