Those were the days The rent strikes

IT was 1914 and the First World War had begun, but in Glasgow another battle was about to begin.

The start of the Great War brought a massive influx of workers to the shipyards and munitions, and landlords saw an opportunity to capitalise. With no council housing at this time, private rental homes – mostly tenement flats – were the only option for many families seeking a roof over their heads. And this gave landlords a great deal of power.

The landlords told tenants their rents would increase by as much as 25% in some areas. Those unable to pay – primarily the elderly or women with children whose husbands were fighting in the war or held in prisoner of war camps – would be forcibly evicted by bailiffs.

Furious, the women of Glasgow decided to stand their ground and the Housewives Housing

Association was formed and chaired by Anne Barbour.

The strike began in September 1915 and, just two months later, some 25,000 working-class families had stopped paying rent.

When the bailiffs appeared at properties to evict the striking tenants, they were driven away by what became know as “Barbour’s Army”. One housewife would keep watch in the tenement close and, on seeing the bailiff approach, would sound a warning bell. Women would rush to the scene and throw flour bombs at the bailiff or throw him on the rubbish tip.

The housing association also picketed empty properties and new tenants paying the increased rents were blocked from entering their homes.

The tactics worked and the rent strike was a huge success. So much so that it spread to other cities throughout the UK.

As a result, 105 years ago today – on November 27, 1915 – the government introduced the Rent Restriction Act to ensure rents were maintained at pre-war levels.