International Union of Tenants

The International Union of Tenants (IUT) is a non-governmental organisation representing 72 tenants' organisations in 47 countries advocating for tenants' rights and defending tenants' interests.[1] IUT's stated aims include safeguarding the interests of tenants and the promotion of affordable healthy housing throughout the world.[2][3] IUT is a non-party political organisation, working along democratic lines.

International Union of Tenants
AbbreviationIUT
Formation1926 in Zürich, Switzerland
HeadquartersStockholm, Sweden
Membership
72 tenants’ organisations in 47 countries[1]
Secretary General
Annika Wahlberg
President
Marie Linder
Staff
2
Websiteiut.nu
Formerly called
International League of Tenants

IUT has consultative status with the UN Economic and Social Council and the Economic Commission for Europe (ECE) - Committee on Human Settlements and since 2005 has participatory status with the Council of Europe.[4][5][6]

The Head office of IUT is located in Stockholm, Sweden and Marie Linder, from the Swedish Union of Tenants, has been president since 2019. Vice presidents are Jan Laurier (the Netherlands) and Rolf Gassmann (Germany). The secretary general is Annika Wahlberg.[7][6] IUT runs a liaison office in the European Union in Brussels, where Barbra Steenbergen is the head.[7] IUT holds an international conference once every three years.[6]

History
International Union of Tenants (IUT) - Founding organisations

The International League of Tenants was founded in May 1926 in Zürich, Switzerland as the International League of Tenants at the first international tenant congress in Zürich, Switzerland, on the initiative of tenants' unions in Sweden, Germany, Austria and Switzerland.[8] The founding congress also included unions from Czechoslovakia, Danzig, Hungary, Denmark, the UK, and France.[9]

Following the election of Adolf Hitler in 1933 tensions within the League escalated, with the outbreak of WWII the organisation ceased to operate. The League was re-established in 1955 and began being referred to as the International Union of Tenants (IUT).[8][2]

In 1974 IUT adopted a Tenants' Charter as their primary policy document, which was superseded in 2004 by a new Tenants' Charter. The charter includes stated objectives such as security of tenure, affordability, housing quality, democratic tenant participation in housing, and the right for tenants to organise to defend their interests.[10][5]

In 1986 IUT established the annual International Tenants' Day to coincide with the United Nations initiated World Habitat Day, taking place each year on the first Monday in October.[11][12]

References
  1. "IUT – About IUT". International Union of Tenants. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  2. "International Union of Tenants | UIA Yearbook Profile | Union of International Associations". uia.org. Union of International Associations. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
  3. Colangelo, Emily A. (2004-06-21). "International Union of Tenants". In Levinson, David (ed.). Encyclopedia of Homelessness. SAGE. pp. 311–312. ISBN 978-0-7619-2751-8.
  4. "IUT – Partnerships & Collaboration". International Union of Tenants.
  5. Bradley, Quintin (2014-05-09). The Tenants' Movement: Resident involvement, community action and the contentious politics of housing. Routledge. pp. 2–3. ISBN 978-1-317-96265-6.
  6. "International Union of Tenants (IUT)". INGO Database. Council of Europe. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
  7. "IUT – Organisation". International Union of Tenants. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
  8. "IUT – History". International Union of Tenants. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
  9. Internationaler Mieterkongress in Zürich 21.–24.Mai 1926. International Tenant Conference. Zürich: International League of Tenants. 24 May 1926 – via Wikipedia.
  10. "IUT – The Tenants' Charter". www.iut.nu. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
  11. Mohamed, Dr Sayed Iqbal (10 October 2018). "Rental Watch: Can your landlord lock you out of your rental?". Independent Online. South Africa. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
  12. "IUT – International Tenants' Day". International Union of Tenants. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
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