Labour urged to bring in secret inspections of rented properties

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.

Landlords can intimidate tenants

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.”

Carry out secret PRS inspections

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.”