Who are we?
We at Oxford Renters Union are a collective of renters who recognised one simple fact: in one of the wealthiest cities in the country, those who actually live here have almost no power over the conditions of our lives. While renters in London and Greater Manchester have built powerful, member-led unions to transform their relation to their housing, in Oxford we haven’t done it yet . So we decided to change that.
Our union is democratic by design. It belongs to its members, not to professional staff, donors, or political patrons. Almost anyone who rents can join – and every member has a voice in shaping what this organisation becomes.
Why did we start our union?
Oxford’s housing crisis is not an accident. Rents are sky high, homes are often cold, unsafe, or poorly maintained, and landlords extract enormous wealth while tenants absorb the risk. This situation benefits a small minority and impoverishes the majority.
We believe that housing should be a place to live, not a financial instrument. By pooling our resources and organising collectively, we can begin to reverse decades of inequality and make Oxford a city that ordinary people can actually afford to stay in.
What’s the plan?
Our first All Members Meeting will take place on 8 February, where members will collectively decide our priorities and strategies. At our following meeting in March, we will elect a committee to coordinate the union’s work going forward.
Every member can stand for election. Every member gets a vote. This is how power stays where it belongs: with the people most affected.
Isn’t there already an ACORN group in Oxford?
ACORN Oxford has largely dissolved following repeated decisions made by an unelected central staff team, leading many members to leave. This experience reflects a broader lesson from the history of tenant organising in Oxford: organisations that are not genuinely member-led, and which don’t have a decent strategy, struggle to endure.
Since the 1970s, renters in Oxford have repeatedly tried – and failed – to build lasting renters’ unions. We believe the time has come for something different: an organisation with fully elected leadership, accountable to its members alone, with a real plan to win.
What are our aims?
In the long run, we want to win a city with rent controls, expanded social housing, and safe, warm homes for everyone, not just the wealthy.
In the short term, we will organise collectively to:
- Win back stolen deposits
- Stop evictions
- Force landlords to carry out repairs
But we see Oxford Renters Union as more than a service organisation. Done right, it can become a political force capable of reshaping the city in the interests of those who actually live and work here.
Who can join?
Anyone who rents can join—except landlords, meaning those who rent out homes for profit.
Why is there a membership fee?
Organisation requires resources. Even at the most basic level, we need to pay for meeting spaces, printed materials, and website hosting. We do not accept funding from wealthy donors or institutions that would seek to influence our direction.
Our strength comes from members. The overwhelming majority of our funding will always come from membership dues.
Why can’t some people join for free?
Membership dues are central to our independence and our democracy. Without them, the union would either be underfunded or forced to rely on external backers, compromising its autonomy.
Paying dues gives members a real stake in the union. It fosters participation, accountability, and collective responsibility. Free membership risks turning the union into a loose network of supporters rather than a disciplined, member-led organisation capable of winning material change.
We also believe that building collective power requires shared sacrifice. Dues are one of the simplest and fairest ways to contribute to the common good—and they help protect the union from disruption or co-option by those without a genuine commitment.
To ensure accessibility, we offer reduced rates for low-income members and three-month grace periods for anyone experiencing financial difficulty.
Why are we registered as a not-for-profit, limited by guarantee?
UK law only allows workplace-based organisations to register as trade unions. In order to open a bank account, we were required to register as a company.
This is a legal technicality – not a political statement. We make no profit, and the organisation is collectively owned and controlled by its members. We believe the law should change so renters’ unions can register as renters’ unions.
Do you have a housing problem?
Join the union, then come to the next meeting on 8 February. Become a member today to find out when and where it’s happening—and to start organising with others in the same position.
Do you want to change your dues or cancel your membership?
Email us at admin@oxfordrentersunion.org.uk
Do you want to find out more?
Then join today—and be part of a movement to reclaim our city from a housing system that serves the few at the expense of the many.