Study uncovers private rented sector abuse
More than 90 per cent of environmental health officers have encountered landlords harassing or illegally evicting tenants, a study has found.
The survey, conducted by housing charity Shelter through the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health, also found that almost all officers said they had encountered landlords in the private rented sector who persistently ignore their responsibilities.
The investigation is part of a national project launched by Shelter today which aims to uncover Britain’s rogue landlords.
More than 90 per cent of officers said they had found severe damp, mould, electrical or fire safety hazards in properties they investigated in the last year. More than 60 per cent said more than half their cases involved people from vulnerable groups.
Campbell Robb, chief executive of Shelter, said: ‘It is simply not acceptable that people are handing over their hard earned cash to live in houses that are run-down, squalid and in some cases even dangerous.
‘With more and more people set to become private tenants in the future, it is absolutely vital that we expose and drive out the worst offenders in the private rented sector.’
Shadow housing minister John Healey said: ‘Shelter’s research shows the appalling problems faced by many of our eight million private renters.’
Housing minister Grant Shapps yesterday published regulations that would allow landlords to reclassify properties as houses in multiple occupation without applying for planning permission.
Mr Healey said: ‘Ministers should stop doing what their friends in the landlord industry tell them to, and reimpose Labour’s regulations.’
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Readers' comments (20)
Melvin Bone | 08/09/2010 12:59 pm
'More than 90 per cent of officers said they had found severe damp, mould, electrical or fire safety hazards in properties they investigated in the last year.'
Because the last regime did so much about this problem...
This shows what an appalling mess Labour has left in the last 13 years that the ConDems have to attempt to rectify.
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Sidney Webb | 08/09/2010 1:11 pm
Quite right MB, but how does freeing private landlords to commit further abuse make anything better. If the government were dealing with it instead of continuing the legacy, it would be better.
The 30-year tragedy that has led us to where we are today has deliberately manipulated the housing market to make private renting viable. That it has taken so long and has involved so much harm and homelessness is an indication as to why it is the wrong way to go. As well as swallowing all and any income people may have private rents are so large as to require topping up through benefits too. This is costing individuals their health and their ability to provide for their futures; it is costing society through the knock on costs and effects; it is costing each of us through increased demands in taxes that we may as well pay straight to these rogue landlords and have done with it. how anyone who is not a private landlord supports this policy direction beggars belief.
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Anonymous | 08/09/2010 1:14 pm
Get a grip Melvin, rogue landlords ahve been about a lot longer than new labour. All parties are keen to drive us to the private sector, but who cares about standards in this sector. The coalition? Not bloody likely.
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Melvin Bone | 08/09/2010 1:24 pm
'Anonymous | 08/09/2010 1:14 pm
Get a grip Melvin'
I'm holding onto reality as tight as I can with you lot.
Getting planning permission for HMO's won't tackle 'rogue' landlords (or have I missed out on the vast number of 'rogue' landlords tackled since the current legislation was put in place in April this year?).
To tackle 'rogue landlords enforcement of other existing legislation is required.
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kass | 08/09/2010 2:10 pm
The abuse of tenants in social sector is nothing compared to that in the private sector. which has been going on since victorian times and even before that.
It is very important that the same regulations for safety and protection in social housing are also applied in private renting. At the same time all the rights stolen by landlords and govenrments from tenants, private and social, are re-instated.
A private rental sector will only prosper if all regulations are being respected, as both private and social tenants have a very hard time at getting environmental Health officers (councils) to act firmly on these issues.
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Melvin Bone | 08/09/2010 2:29 pm
'At the same time all the rights stolen by landlords and govenrments from tenants, private and social, are re-instated.'
Whats rights would you like re-instated Kass?
I agree with you that Enviromental Health Officers need to act more firmly with the current legislation.
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Anonymous | 08/09/2010 2:36 pm
Exactly how much money does Shelter get from the taxpayer?
If it wants to report in such a prejudicial manner then perhaps it will have find out what life is like in a box first-hand.
Why no reporting on conditions in the social sector?
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Paine | 08/09/2010 3:19 pm
Anonymous | 08/09/2010 2:36 pm, are you honestly saying that you think Shelter and the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health should be punished by the govt for research commissioned in the public interest?
Are you implying by this that the govt is somehow beholden to support PSLs over and above the general public? If so, why?
Charities are entitled to carry out the campaigning functions passed fit by the Charity Commission. I am curious about anyone who would seriously challenge free speech for narrow political or financial gain.
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gordon thompson | 08/09/2010 3:34 pm
"I am curious about anyone who would seriously challenge free speech for narrow political or financial gain".
You should have a look at Hansard - Pickles has been talking today.
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Anonymous | 08/09/2010 4:19 pm
Ah, the public interest, that old bit of tatty moral deceit straight out of the Lewis Caroll book of flexible meanings.
Shelter is a NuLab front operation performing the useful function of singing sweet songs for NuLab while tarting itself up as a repository of objective independent research.
Just like Piglet in fact - all that hammy Yorkshireman stuff is meant to hide the real agenda.
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