Sadiq Khan pushes for tougher penalties for landlords over mouldy homes

Sadiq Khan pushes for tougher penalties for landlords over mouldy homes

0:03 AM, 30th November 2023, About 12 months ago 49

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The London Mayor is calling for tougher sanctions for private landlords who let out mouldy homes in the capital.

Sadiq Khan wants to see rent rebates doubled if landlords fail to fix mouldy and draughty homes in London.

As part of the mayor’s measures, Rent Repayment Orders – legal orders which require rogue private landlords to pay back rent to tenants for various offences – could be extended from 12 months to two years’ worth of rent.

Under Mr Khan’s proposals a tenant paying the average London asking rent of £2,627 a month, could mean a landlord has to pay back the tenant up to £63,000 in rent if found in violation.

Fail to meet Decent Homes Standard

According to research by Generation Rent, private renters in London are disproportionately likely to be defined as ‘vulnerable’.

Nearly a fifth (18%) of privately rented homes in London fail to meet the Decent Homes Standard, with more than 178,000 private rented properties in the capital classified as ‘non-decent’.

A Freedom of Information request by Generation Rent revealed that damp and mould complaints accounted for nearly a third (28%) of category-one hazards in London, posing serious health and safety risks.

Incidents reported to London councils were more than twice the proportion seen across England.

Building a better London for everyone

Alongside proposals for tougher actions on landlords, Mr Khan has also announced a new mayoral initiative to help deliver training for borough environmental health officers to tackle damp and mouldy homes.

He said: “The provision of adequate housing is critical to building a better London for everyone and every single Londoner should have the right to a safe and secure home.

“That’s why I am funding the training of specialist officers to ensure homes meet a decent standard and why I am determined to see much tougher penalties for rogue landlords who rent out private properties in poor and dangerous conditions.”

He added: “This action can only come from the government, but the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement proved a missed opportunity to clamp down on sub-par housing, and invest in the delivery of more high-quality, affordable homes.”

The Mayor also repeated calls for an immediate two-year rent freeze and to immediately pass the Renters Reform Bill, including the removal of Section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions.

Mr Khan says he wants to ensure that renters aren’t deterred from reporting damp and mould due to the risk of retaliatory eviction.


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David100

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10:09 AM, 2nd December 2023, About 12 months ago

In the PRS, useless politicians have shifted all the blame from their bad decisions onto the landlords. Those wanting to rent have been suckered into thinking its a nil sum game, that beating down on landlords is going to somehow be good for tenants.

Adrian Jones

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12:10 PM, 2nd December 2023, About 12 months ago

Reply to the comment left by Frank Jennings at 30/11/2023 - 10:17
Excellent idea Frank, but not a chance of getting through as the primary objective is not to solve a problem but to clobber Landlords.

JeggNegg

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14:50 PM, 2nd December 2023, About 12 months ago

Reply to the comment left by Mike at 30/11/2023 - 11:31
I am not sure if it’s just Mr Khan thinks mould is a LL problem, I think other politicians have come to a similar conclusion. Sadly and wrongly in my opinion. If I understand your message correctly, if LL can sell up and retire from the PRS. They should do so. Sadly I am not it that financial position and therefore will continue to work with my tenants. I am in a fortunate position that I don’t live under mr Khan’s political control, but most of my housing stock is over 100 years old so finding a satisfactory conclusion is challenging.

JeggNegg

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14:59 PM, 2nd December 2023, About 12 months ago

Reply to the comment left by Dennis Leverett at 30/11/2023 - 11:48
My calculator suggests the figure is On average
£100,000 each.. still v cheap

JeggNegg

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15:32 PM, 2nd December 2023, About 12 months ago

Reply to the comment left by Ma'at Housing Solutions at 30/11/2023 - 12:31
Thank you for your comments. I did read about Away Isaak very sad circumstances.. I understand the point you make re The LA complete failure to address the mould issue in this case as being anywhere near acceptable. I do not know any of the details within the property so I cannot make any further comment, But my point is if a LL provides ventilation for the tenant to use and support and regular visits to the property to ‘check’ all is well within the property, is it 100% the LL’s responsibility if mould appears on the internal walls? And no communication has been made by a tenant to the LL?
With your housing experience of over 20 years I sadly accept the statements you make regarding all types of LL, BUT, I was trying to suggest it’s the problem and responsibility of BOTH tenant and LL to work together and communicate to resolve ALL PROBLEMS asap. So if your final comment is aimed at me personally, I wish to defend myself as a LL who does not blame someone else if their is a problem.. in December 2022 I contacted all tenants individually in writing and specifically asked them if they had any mould or ventilation issues. All bar one tenant replied to me the day they received my letter and confirmed by email or a telephone call they had no issues. However, an elderly tenant didn’t reply so I contacted a member of her family. I am not sure if you consider i could do even more. I am very happy for you to contact me to discuss further in private if I have failed to do all I should have done in your opinion. chilka@btinternet.com

JeggNegg

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15:36 PM, 2nd December 2023, About 12 months ago

Reply to the comment left by Peter G at 30/11/2023 - 13:31
Fair questions

Dennis Leverett

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16:10 PM, 2nd December 2023, About 12 months ago

Reply to the comment left by JeggNegg at 02/12/2023 - 14:59
Whoops, my calculator for some reason says 10,000 but my mobile agrees with you. Calculator now in bin. Still not possible especially in London and most other counties. Perhaps his calculator has a bigger problem than mine or just another idiotic statement not even thought about. Even if the £100,000 was just a deposit the debt of 1,500 house would an awful lot. Thanks for pointing that out.

blair

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17:55 PM, 2nd December 2023, About 12 months ago

One thing landlords should do and isnt expensive is fit at least a single heat recovery extractor fan in the bathroom They not that expensive.

A lot of tenants dont like their extractor fan running on after use - as it costs money I tell them they must and keep the door shut to the steamey bathroom too

Some mold in inevitable in older uk housing Knan needs to wake up and prompt better understanding of the courses of mould -- that would be money well spent

Barry Smith

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21:33 PM, 2nd December 2023, About 12 months ago

Did you notice its for private landlords, ive been in plenty of council houses & housing association houses/flats that are also mouldy or draughty.
Mr khan is a corrupt guy that is only lining his own pockets, he is elected in by the people for him to not listen to the majority.
His ideas will bring normal people to the end of there tethers & will cause more suicides because people will have no idea how to pay to survive.

JeggNegg

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23:55 PM, 2nd December 2023, About 12 months ago

Reply to the comment left by Dennis Leverett at 02/12/2023 - 16:10
No probs.

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