9:21 AM, 13th November 2024, About A year ago 25
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Landlords could face secret inspections of their rental properties under Labour’s Renters’ Rights Bill after being urged to do so by the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH).
The CIEH wants MPs to scrap the 24-hour notice period that councils must currently give to landlords before entering a rented property.
It believes this requirement is being used by landlords to intimidate tenants who have complained about property conditions.
The move has been revealed in the CIEH’s written evidence submission to the Committee looking at the Bill.
The CIEH’s submission to the Committee states: “At present environmental health officers must give 24 hours’ notice to landlords and tenants when inspecting property conditions under the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS).
“This is not required for licensing or for inspections assessing the management of houses in multiple accommodation.
“It gives the landlord 24 hours’ notice that the tenant has complained.
“The landlord can then appear at the inspection, which can be an intimidating experience for a tenant.”
It goes on: “Local authorities should be able to conduct such visits without giving 24 hours’ notice, permitting private conversations with the tenant before the local authority contacts the landlord to notify them if works are required.”
The CIEH says it wants section 239 of the Housing Act 2004 to be amended by the Bill to remove the requirement for 24 hours’ notice.
Mark Elliott, the organisation’s president, said: “This written evidence, which has been developed through our Housing Advisory Panel, is a substantial piece of work that will provide a very strong foundation for our further parliamentary activity around the Bill.”
The Bill’s Committee is still considering responses and a report on amendments is expected at the end of this month.
That could see the Bill handing Housing Secretary Angela Rayner powers for councils to carry out secret PRS inspections.
However, Propertymark’s president elect, told the Telegraph that it was ‘only fair’ that property owners be allowed to attend inspections – especially as they will be responsible for any works.
She told the newspaper: “Often when we talk about rogue landlords, or landlords who are behaving in an unacceptable way, we are talking about the exception, not the rule.
“The problem we have at the moment is that legislation is being continuously written for the exception, the unusual case, not for your day-to-day landlords.”
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Council inspects 500 PRS homes - and finds 2,000 issues
Cider Drinker
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Member Since December 2023 - Comments: 1514
18:19 PM, 12th November 2024, About A year ago
Tenants have a right to the quiet enjoyment of their homes.
I’m not allowed to enter without the tenants’ permission and I own the property.
Who on God’s Earth do these people think they are?
Cider Drinker
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Member Since December 2023 - Comments: 1514
19:26 PM, 12th November 2024, About A year ago
It’s the tenants that need to give permission. It’s their home.
Paul
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Member Since December 2014 - Comments: 90
9:22 AM, 13th November 2024, About A year ago
I have no issues with this as a concept. When ever I go round perhaps at short notice because they have an issue, I will find the house in very good working order spoiled by how the tenants treat the property. However, I think the chance of a visit is so low to make it a drop in the ocean. I can see why a landlord would not be allowed to ‘pop’ round, but we are usually the best to inspect as we know about our houses and care about them. Well, the decent landlords. Rubbish landlords are never really effected by legislation as they just ignore it.
Ray Guselli
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Member Since May 2022 - Comments: 76
9:25 AM, 13th November 2024, About A year ago
Perhaps start with Local Authority properties?
Judith Wordsworth
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Member Since January 2015 - Comments: 1343
9:26 AM, 13th November 2024, About A year ago
Might do Councils good to see the state some tenants keep their properties in and the way they live. And we can always supply check in photos.
But will be a nice breach of a right to quiet enjoyment but then that’s only the landlords that have to stick by that one !
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Member Since January 1970 - Comments: 5
9:42 AM, 13th November 2024, About A year ago
Stella
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Member Since May 2014 - Comments: 581
10:01 AM, 13th November 2024, About A year ago
How low can this government stoop?
Yesterday I was told by a council tenant who has lived in the same property for 45 years that they had been complaining to the council about their drains for the past 20 years because of the damage caused to their property when their drains back up.
He said that this was due to the council’s lack of maintenance.
Perhaps they need to get their own house in order first!
Dylan Morris
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Member Since August 2016 - Comments: 1139
10:32 AM, 13th November 2024, About A year ago
Reply to the comment left by Pete David at 13/11/2024 – 09:42I don’t have an issue with this. I inspect my properties every 6 months and fill in an inspection form (downloaded from the NRLA). Both tenant and myself sign listing any work required. (This importantly covers off any damp issues). The Council will only be inspecting as they have received a complaint from tenant. There are some very bad landlords out there (some are even Labour Members of Parliament) and some tenants are living in miserable conditions. I’ve absolutely nothing to fear from this. If you do, then you’re not taking your landlord duties seriously.
Paul
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Member Since May 2021 - Comments: 15
10:32 AM, 13th November 2024, About A year ago
Labour is the new Stasi
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Member Since January 1970 - Comments: 5
10:51 AM, 13th November 2024, About A year ago