RENTERS’ rights campaigners celebrated a win against TSB today after the bank agreed to drop a rule in their buy-to-let mortgage policies that would leave tenants with uncertain contracts. 

Hundreds of Acorn members demonstrated outside 30 branches of the high street bank last week, with hundreds more emailing and posting online for it to drop a clause that stops landlords from offering contracts of more than 12 months. 

TSB has committed to changing the clause to allow up to three-year tenancies for both existing and new mortgages in the coming weeks.

Tenants will be able to negotiate longer contracts, offering them more security against evictions, rent rises and homelessness.

Acorn national board member Alex Richardson said: “TSB’s decision is a brilliant victory for our union, won as always by the collective direct action of our members right across the country. 

“Politicians need to ensure proper security for tenants — but in the meantime, we won’t wait around.”

TSB’s 12-month clause is the shortest contract length specified in any buy-to-let mortgage terms. 

Campaigns said that the clause puts renters in a situation where they have to renegotiate their living arrangements and sign a new contract every single year, or have to put their lives on hold and spend lots of money to move home. 

Acorn national board member Eleesha Taylor-Barrett said: “As a renter who’s moved five times in the last five years, I know first-hand the level of uncertainty these insecure tenancies can bring.

“That’s why Acorn will continue to fight for rental reforms, and we’ll be making sure the next government deliver the changes we desperately need.”