A growing number of people are struggling with private rented homes which are damp, dangerous and in need of significant repair, according to Citizens Advice.
It said it helped people with 14% more repairs and maintenance problems between July and September this year than in the same period in 2013.
Difficulties getting repairs and maintenance is the most common problem with private rented homes reported to the national charity. In the past 12 months the charity helped people with almost 17,000 of these issues.
In one case a couple with two young children were living in a rented home which had severe damp problems, causing mould all over walls and in cupboards. Their private landlord repeatedly refused to treat the damp, but after the family contacted environmental health he agreed to pay for some anti-mould paint. Not long after this he evicted them.
In its Advice Trends report Citizens Advice highlights that one in three private rented properties in England does not meet the Government’s decent home minimum standard. Yet renters in England have very few rights and find it hard to hold landlords to account over poor conditions, for fear of eviction. Citizens Advice helped with 20% more issues where people are facing eviction despite being up to date with rent.
Citizens Advice wants protections for people renting from private landlords to be improved. On Friday 28 November the Tenancies Reform Bill will be debated in Parliament. If enacted the Private Members Bill would prevent such retaliatory evictions.
Gillian Guy, chief executive of Citizens Advice, said: “It’s hard to feel at home in the private rented sector. People can struggle to lead a normal life when their home is in a state of disrepair and they could be told to leave at any time. But many feel powerless to speak out.
“People face a huge number of different housing problems. But despite one in five now renting privately, the sector is subject to comparatively little regulation. Rogue landlords and letting agents are free to mistreat tenants and charge ever increasing rents. In other markets consumers have far more protection, such as the right to refunds or repairs, if the product or service the pay for is not up to scratch.
“Urgent action is needed to bring renters’ rights up to a decent 21st century standard. Putting an end to retaliatory evictions is a good place to start. We hope that MPs support the Tenancies Reform Bill on Friday.”
