A PRIVATE renters’ rights campaign has been saved by tenants as it announced yesterday that individual donations had already raised enough to keep the group afloat.

Generation Rent was left without funding earlier this month when its original sponsor Nationwide Foundation unexpectedly withdrew its £750,000 support.

But British renters flocked to help the charity, crowdfunding over £11,000 in a fortnight — enough to keep the campaign running as a volunteering organisation.

The group’s director Betsy Dillner told the Star: “We had originally been given funding for a £1.5 million business plan.

“Part of the funding agreement was that we would continue looking for other sources of revenue that we wouldn’t continue relying on Nationwide as our only source of income.

“I think we thought we had quite a bit more time in order for that to take place but they were not satisfied with the amount of progress that we made at that point.”

According to Mr Dillner mistakes were made and a review of the charity’s aims is in place to “make sure they never happen again.”

The charity’s formal explanation lists as a root for the problem prioritising “getting the best deal for renters that we possibly could out of the general election and as a result our efforts at finding new sources of income were delayed.”

The campaign can now continue as a volunteer organisation but its five officers risk losing their jobs.

However Ms Dillner added that the funding will continue and that larger institutional donations were yet to be announced.

Support for the campaign was clear from the rapid response it had to its appeal for cash.

A backer under the name of Rosie Walker commented: “I only had to think of the landlord who made me homeless just because he didn’t like me and then it was easy to donate. Good luck guys.”

Trade unions have also stepped forward, with general union GMB Holborn branch donating £200 this week.

Generation Rent denied rumours that Nationwide Foundation had withdrawn its funding due to the campaign’s “anti-landlord rhetoric” and that the two organisations kept good relations despite going separate ways.