Councils failing to act on dangerous hazards in properties

Councils failing to act on dangerous hazards in properties

0:02 AM, 7th June 2024, About 4 weeks ago 6

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Councils are failing to properly inspect properties with potentially dangerous hazards, claims the NRLA.

Under the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS), local authorities can inspect rented properties for hazards after a tenant complaint and force landlords to fix them.

Freedom of Information data obtained by the NRLA reveals that between 2021 and 2023, just a third of complaints raised by renters were responded to with an HHSRS inspection.

Tenants must have confidence in councils’ ability to act

According to the research, half of all HHSRS inspections were conducted by just 20 local authorities, while 16% of councils couldn’t provide any inspection figures at all.

The data also reveals that 37% of councils were unable to provide any housing tenure-specific data related to tenant complaints.

Ben Beadle, chief executive of the NRLA, said: “No renters should ever have to put up with unsafe housing.

“Whilst ultimately it is landlords who are responsible for the quality of the housing they provide, tenants must have confidence in councils’ ability to act when renters require assistance.

“Our research paints a worrying picture of councils under strain struggling to respond as they should to tenant complaints. In addition, many do not have the data needed to track enforcement activity properly.”

Mr Beadle adds: “Calls for new laws to tackle rogue and criminal landlords are distracting from the fact that councils routinely fail to make the best use of the powers available to them.

“The focus must be on swift, consistent enforcement. This is in the interest of households and responsible landlords.”

Only 7% of HHSRS inspections led to improvement notices

When hazards are identified during an inspection, councils have several enforcement options, including issuing an Improvement Notice to force landlords to fix the problem.

Following the improvement notice, landlords are then banned from serving a Section 21 ‘no-fault’ possession notice for six months.

Despite these measures, between 2021 and 2023, just 7% of HHSRS inspections led to an Improvement Notice being served.

More than half of notices were served by just 20 local authorities, while 23 councils had served no notices.

Councils should release annual report on enforcement actions

The NRLA is calling for a national Chief Environmental Health Officer to be appointed and for the next government to publish the promised review of the HHSRS.

The organisation also wants councils to release annual reports on their enforcement actions in the private rental sector and show how they’re tackling poor practices and sub-standard housing.

The full report can be read here.


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Comments

Julian Lloyd

10:15 AM, 7th June 2024, About 4 weeks ago

What the hell are the NRLA playing at? Do they not realise that us landlords pay their wages!
My local council considers that letters left on the stairs are a class 1 hazard, so are they suggesting us LL should be fined more readily for such matters?
Its time they backed landlords explicitly and unconditionally!

Clint

13:19 PM, 7th June 2024, About 4 weeks ago

I agree that no tenant should have to undergo dangerous hazards however, I don't see why the NRLA is acting to support tenants in this respect. It is not what they are there for. Surely, the NRLA are supposed to gear their efforts to support landlords

There are many organisations supporting tenants, but we have only the NRLA who instead of acting for Landlords put all their efforts into helping and supporting tenants.

We need a totally new organisation for landlords.

havens havens

14:28 PM, 7th June 2024, About 4 weeks ago

It's concerning that councils aren't properly inspecting rental properties for hazards, leaving tenants at risk. Landlords need to take responsibility, but councils should also be responsive to tenant complaints. There should be more transparency and accountability in how councils enforce housing standards.

Reluctant Landlord

14:44 PM, 7th June 2024, About 4 weeks ago

Reply to the comment left by Julian Lloyd at 07/06/2024 - 10:15
agree!!! How do members of the NRLA get this over to them exactly in a way that pushes the direction back on actually representing landlords other than emails?

PH

16:37 PM, 7th June 2024, About 4 weeks ago

Whoever pays the NRLA must come from another planet. They do nothing for landlords whatsoever.

Clint

17:03 PM, 7th June 2024, About 4 weeks ago

I think the majority of Landlords that support the NRLA are landlords with one or two properties that don't even read Ben beadle's articles

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