Housing Benefit cuts and the Coalition Government’s refusal to regulate the private rented sector could mean vulnerable tenants will end up in accommodation that is managed by a rogue landlord, Shelter has warned.
The charity has seen a 25% increase in complaints about landlords during the last 12 months, with grievances over dangerous levels of damp and disrepair increasing by 40%, while complaints about a landlord harassing a tenant have increased by a quarter. Last year Grant Shapps, the Coalitions housing minister, rejected new regulations and a national register of landlords proposed by the previous Government. Instead he wants the council to tackle rogue landlords.
Shelter, a charity that works with the homeless and vulnerable, has warned that the impending cuts to housing allowance benefit could mean the poorest tenants may be pushed straight into the arms of the worst landlords in the sector.
Campbell Robb, chief executive of Shelter, said “The housing minister’s claim that ‘the vast majority of England’s 3 million private tenants are happy with the service they receive’ has been seriously thrown into question. Our figures clearly show a worrying increase in the number of people seeking our help regarding problems with their landlord.
“It’s frightening to see that complaints about bad landlords are increasing at such a rate at the very time that renting a home is fast becoming the only option for thousands of families across this country. It appears that rogue landlords are cashing in on this growing market.”
Rogue landlords seem to be a perpetual thorn in the side for the overwhelming majority of decent landlords and yet there is no reason for any landlord at all not to be a good one. Landlord insurance, good rental yields and an abundance of tenants should encourage any landlord at the present time to do all he can to get the most out of his business.
Shelter wants Grant Shapps to produce a clear plan to tackle rogue landlords and make sure all local authorities sign up to a minimum standard accreditation scheme as they can be an effective way for consumers to identify good landlords in the area.