Half of renters are living in cold, damp homes – Citizens Advice

Half of renters are living in cold, damp homes – Citizens Advice

9:46 AM, 24th July 2024, About 2 days ago 36

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Nearly half of private renters in England are enduring freezing, damp or mouldy homes, Citizens Advice has warned.

And, the charity claims, half of these tenants have endured these conditions for over a year.

It also says there has been a surge in eviction cases and it is helping nearly 100 people every day who are facing Section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions.

The government is now being urged to end Section 21 and force landlords to improve energy efficiency in their properties.

‘Should be a fundamental right’

The chief executive of Citizens Advice, Dame Clare Moriarty, said: “A warm, safe home, free of damp and mould should be a fundamental right.

“Yet private renters are paying through the roof for increasingly decrepit housing which eats up their hard-earned cash and puts their health at risk.”

She added: “To make matters worse, renters have little power and live with the constant threat of eviction hanging over their heads.

“The government must follow through on its promises and improve the lives of private renters.

“This means raising the quality of privately rented housing, tackling runaway rents, and bringing in a watertight ban of section 21 evictions so renters aren’t afraid to challenge poor conditions.”

Generational decline in living standards

Citizens Advice says the crisis is exacerbating a generational decline in living standards in the private rented sector.

It says that renters on low incomes are projected to spend 53% of their earnings on housing and energy this year.

That figure dwarfs the 46% for social housing tenants and 40% for homeowners.

The organisation also claims that a third of private renters have resorted to borrowing to cover rent.

And 17% choose not to use the heating, hot water or electricity.

Third of renters who have experienced damp

However, the research also reveals that a third of renters who have experienced damp, cold or mould haven’t complained to landlords, fearing eviction or rent rises.

Citizens Advice is now demanding reform of the PRS and is urging the government to address affordability, disrepair and security issues.

This includes permanently linking financial support for renters to real rent prices, implementing a watertight ban on Section 21 evictions, and requiring landlords to improve energy efficiency to a minimum EPC rating of ‘C’.


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moneymanager

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17:02 PM, 25th July 2024, About 18 hours ago

Reply to the comment left by Ian Narbeth at 24/07/2024 - 12:48
Retaliatory eviction is already banned, is it enforced, so what difference will new rules make to THAT issue?

Ian Narbeth

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17:15 PM, 25th July 2024, About 18 hours ago

Reply to the comment left by Chris @ Possession Friend at 25/07/2024 - 16:54
Hi Chris, I am not sure if your post supports or opposes my argument. As I understand it, Gallup and other political polls often use a sample size of 1000.

My concern is that if landlords who are non-experts in statistics trespass on statisticians' territory we can look (a) foolish and (b) in cases such as this, uncaring.

It is obvious that many tenants are having a very bad time. The fact that the CAB and Shelter over-state their case and are not fair to landlords does not negate the problems tenants face.

Keith Wellburn

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18:55 PM, 25th July 2024, About 16 hours ago

Reply to the comment left by Ian Narbeth at 25/07/2024 - 17:15What it does do is remove focus from those tenants with serious problems that need support.
When it comes to ‘damp’ and ‘mould’ there is such a spectrum from life threatening conditions to the spurious and inconsequential. The LAs I used to deal with recognised that dampness had relevance to the type and age of the property - and were very aware of how condensation issues (the conditions needed for mould formation) were influenced by how the property was used - a factor not under the direct control of the landlord.
Whilst any damp and mould does involve the landlord in its resolution - that is NOT the same as the issue being the sole responsibility of the landlord or due to a defect with the property.
Quite simply, if you let Relative Humidity rise above 60% for lengthy periods you will have condensation and then mould. If the property is capable of being lived in by tenants acting in a reasonable ‘tenant like manner’ (their obligation) without those conditions arising them I would suggest that , after a landlord has advised on actions to be taken, that is down to the tenant.
How is including that in sensationalist reporting helping those whose property is incapable of being lived in without serious health damaging mould and need the help of CAB in getting a resolution?
Whether it’s a back street terrace in Bolton or Buckingham Palace, if you push items of furniture right up against an external wall you will get condensation and mould behind. Similarly if you never open your curtains from one months end to the next you will end up with black mould on the frames, panes, surrounds and even the curtains as you have a cold spot with no air circulation.
Whose responsibility is it to open the curtains?

That is my absolute frustration with this type of reporting and is not helped by any technical understanding being either dumbed down or removed altogether in this new world where ‘my truth’ trumps simple fact.

Priten Patel

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21:25 PM, 25th July 2024, About 14 hours ago

Case and point

https://www.property118.com/how-should-landlords-handle-damp-and-mould-issues/

Landlords are in a corner if it comes to damp and mould. The guidance is vague and completely lacking.

Stella

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10:52 AM, 26th July 2024, About 27 minutes ago

Citizens advice should change their name because if I went to see them to ask for advice about a a bad tenant they would not give me advice.

I am also a citizen but I am discriminated against because I am not a tenant.
With this level of bias how can we take them seriously?

Chris @ Possession Friend

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12:04 PM, 26th July 2024, Less than a minute ago

Reply to the comment left by Ian Narbeth at 25/07/2024 - 17:15I am not an expert in statistical analysis either Ian, but I do know there are stringent principles that have to be followed to claim statistical significance.
I did try and query with EHS, how they arrived at their claim of ' a quarter of rented property have Cat 1 hazards. '
I was taken down a rabbit hole by the boffs at EHS, where an expert in statistics was needed.
What I'm saying is that anyone's figures are open to question, as to methodology etc.
Difference between Landlord and tenant groups, is that landlords will acknowledge that there are a small number of 'bad actors' ( much smaller than the number of Bad tenants ! - whereas Tenant groups won't ever acknowledge such a thing as a bad tenant.
C.A. are standing up for Tenants, and what Landlords on this forum usually do, is to defend and stand up for landlords. and respond appropriately to criticism ( and question any evidence claimed )

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