Call for more PRS enforcement funding in England

A charity is calling for more government funding to help councils enforce housing and health standards in the private rented sector (PRS).

People’s Health Trust (PHT) claims that tenants are living in dire conditions – with some areas seeing nearly double the number living in a home that doesn’t meet the Decent Homes Standard.

While the standard looks set to be applied to the PRS when the Renters (Reform) Bill becomes law, PHT says there are stark disparities in regional housing quality.

‘Impact their health and shorten their lives’

The chief executive of PHT, John Hume, said: “Too many families are living in appalling conditions which seriously impact their health and shorten their lives.

“People’s Health Trust is calling for the government to implement a clear and properly resourced strategy for housing enforcement which would help support a functioning private rented sector that provides people with the decent homes they need to improve their health and wellbeing.”

The organisation reveals that Yorkshire and the Humber have the highest percentage of non-compliant private rentals at 38%, a figure nearly twice the national average.

The North West follows at 33%, exceeding the national standard by more than 10%.

Facing the worst damp and mould rates

PHT also says that tenants in Yorkshire and the Humber are facing the worst damp and mould rates in the country with 23% of PRS properties affected.

It points out that the region is home to more than a fifth of all the serious damp problems in England’s PRS homes.

The national average figure is 9%.

Tenants in damp homes are facing health risks, the group says, with those with asthma at particular risk.

Enforcement measures for councils to clampdown on landlords

Now, the People’s Health Trust is calling on Housing Secretary Michael Gove to bring in stronger enforcement measures for councils to clampdown on landlords.

It says that council staff should be funded to carry out the work, or councils should have the tools to fund enforcement in their areas.

The organisation also says that adequate resources will see councils being proactive and remove the burden from tenants asking for repairs which could, PHT claims, put them at risk of eviction.

This is a growing issue, the group says, and points to Local Government Association which shows that councils are facing a £4 billion funding shortfall and PRS inspections will be at risk.