Even Banks Should Learn: Homes Aren’t Assets
MERLIN BETTS
We’re marching down the middle of the street. I’ve got a notepad and placard in hand, red jackets rustling, red banners flying. We’re chanting, “The renters, united, will never be defeated!” as we make our way toward the TSB on Western Road, Brighton.
Myself and three other members of Hastings Acorn have turned out with around 45 Brighton comrades to fight TSB’s unethical buy-to-let mortgage policy. Across the country, in 29 other towns, Acorn members are doing the same chant, marching on their own targets.
Despite the grand and, arguably, aggressive nature of our action, we’re actually making quite a reasonable ask: TSB is the only bank to restrict their buy-to-let mortgage policy holders to one year tenancy contracts; we want that to stop.
The one-year restriction creates a culture where it’s normal for tenants to have the terms of the contract redrafted every year, or be forced to move out. It makes them vulnerable to unnecessary rent increases and Section 21 evictions. It stops them from being able to feel their home is their home. Maybe that’s not so bad for a single student or professional in a room or a studio flat. But for a family it can be disastrous.
Occupy with merriment and song
As we reach the bank, everyone is well behaved. Inside, the band starts setting up and we make space, ensuring that anyone can still access the branch. This is the most life the place has seen in years. TSB’s manager asks us to keep away from the main desk, and we comply, but we’ve already seen him press his emergency button – the police are on their way.
Our house band, Far Darrig, in their own words, “the most sluttish, slouching, jeering, mischievous phantoms,” stand centre stage and start with a rendition of Dirty Old Town. For maybe half an hour we make the branch feel like a lounge, a home from home, a place of music and welcome.
Then the police turn up and negotiate with us to leave. Ignoring some nasty sniffing and silent snarling from a couple of officers in the bank, we reach agreement and file out onto the pavement, setting up our picket and a picnic bench – time for a game of renters’ wheel of fortune, hosted by the mask of TSB CEO Robin Bulloch.
Closing time
While we have no problem with the bank staying open (if they want to stay open), the staff have shut the door behind us, and aren’t allowing anyone in. Even a disabled woman asking to use the toilet. Anything, in their mind, could be a ruse to get the band and dancers back into the bank… and what would happen then? Would the paint start drooling down the walls in rainbow-coloured rivulets? Would the barren floor grow a luscious carpet? Would some strange hairy Irishman start serving pints from behind the main desk? How much would it cost the branch to clean that up at the end of the day? No – everyone must be kept out.
Our picketing clearly isn’t helping, but they hold out for a couple of hours before finally putting up the sign, “This branch is temporarily closed due to unforeseen circumstances.”
Finale
We pack up and march off to our rally point for a debrief, and that’s that. We head off to the pub to watch the other success stories roll in. Victory seems inevitable. And it is.
On Wednesday 22 May, 11 days after the action, Acorn representatives attend a sit-down with reps from TSB at their swanky HQ in London. The bank agreed to extend the one-year limit to three years, and apparently maintain a discourse about further adaptations to assist renters. No rest for us though – there’s always more to be done.
To find out more about Acorn or join your local branch and get our representation,
visit @acornunionhastings on Instagram.
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