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9:11 AM, 20th April 2021, About 3 years ago 48
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Shelter is urging the government to bring forward the Renters’ Reform Bill based on two survey samples of only 553 or 551 private renters, both possibly skewed by how the data is collected
Shelter go on to extrapolate in their press release:
New figures by YouGov released today show 39% of private renters, equivalent to 3.2m people, say they have been forced to live in dangerous or unhealthy conditions because they fear complaining to their landlord will trigger a retaliatory eviction.
And almost half (46%) of private renters, equivalent to 3.8m people, whose homes have needed repairs or improvements said they have not tried to resolve these owing to these fears.
Because private landlords can evict tenants by serving a section 21 ‘no fault’ eviction notice, where they don’t have to give a reason, losing a private tenancy remains a leading cause of homelessness.
And while the coronavirus pandemic has made our homes more important than ever, 35% of private renters say their housing situation has made lockdowns harder to cope with. A fifth (21%) had suffered with damp, mould, condensation, poor insulation or excess cold in the past month alone.
In light of these worrying findings and ahead of the Queen’s Speech next month, housing charity Shelter is urging Boris Johnson to honour his pledge to deliver a Renters’ Reform Bill that transforms private renting. This should include abolishing section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions which would give renters the security they need to challenge poor conditions. And creating a National Landlord Register, which would force landlords to prove properties meet essential safety standards.
Polly Neate, chief executive of Shelter, said:“Our broken renting system is overdue serious reform. For years, renters have paid through the nose for neglected properties, left powerless and paralysed by the fear that complaining about basic repairs could see them out on the streets.
“Over the past year, our homes have been our first line of defence against coronavirus. Yet this pandemic has exposed the grim reality that too many of the country’s 11 million renters – including key workers, families and the elderly – wake up every day to mould, pests and dangerous hazards.
“The Renters’ Reform Bill offers us a once-in-a generation opportunity to transform private renting and create a fairer safer system for all renters – we must seize it with both hands.”
Between March 2020 and March 2021, Shelter has seen a 35% increase amongst private renters who are contacting the charity’s helpline and web chat services for advice about poor conditions.
All survey results are based on a survey of 3,588 people in England (553 currently private renting), online, weighted, 18+, 7th-9th April 2021 or on a YouGov survey of 3,603 people in England (551 currently private renting), online, weighted, 18+, 28th Jan – 1st Feb 2021. Numbers of people are estimates calculated by Shelter using the survey results in conjunction with official statistics on population sizes. Shelter estimates there to be 8.2 million adult private renters in England, using analysis of published English Housing Survey (MHCLG) figures for 2019/20 and raw data from the same survey dated 2018/19.
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Landlord Phil
12:25 PM, 25th April 2021, About 3 years ago
I think old Mrs & Chris have nailed my points perfectly. Shelter have gov & funding on their side, we don't. Employing dirty tactics to win a political aim just isn't the right way. What do we have? The right of comment, that's all, & that's exactly what I'm exercising. Shelter bashing isn't improving their reputation at all. If it was, landlord bashing would have made us saintly by now. No, the truth is that the public need to be made aware of what their donations actually achieve. Salary, government agenda & negative hype. This ain't a conspiracy, it's an absolute fact. We need to tell Joe Public what their donation goes toward. I'm very vocal about it & I urge others to be the same. We can't stop them by the same means that £20m gov funding can, but we can spread the word of truth. Tell the people what their cash does & where it could do more good. There are loads of charities that actually do something to help the homeless & disadvantaged, let's see them get the money they need over paying £122k per year to the chief executive of a charity that exists just to pander to a government agenda. And let's not make it political, Shelter pander to whatever colour of politics is in number 10. We just need to stop this awful organisation from taking well intentioned donations & divert the money to more deserving causes.
Whiteskifreak Surrey
22:21 PM, 25th April 2021, About 3 years ago
Reply to the comment left by Landlord Phil at 25/04/2021 - 12:25
Easier said that done. I am exactly of the same opinion and usually very vocal on Shelter's FB Page. As I mentioned I was banned from it.
Is there any alternative place to discuss their conduct?
Thanks.
Chris @ Possession Friend
0:32 AM, 26th April 2021, About 3 years ago
Reply to the comment left by Whiteskifreak Surrey at 25/04/2021 - 22:21
I've been onto Tax payers Alliance about the waste of Benefit not getting promptly paid to landlords, - a little off-Shelter topic, I know. As I said earlier, Landlords need a collective body that represents Everyone in the industry, including all the regional Landlord associations ( not just the NRLA )
psquared
6:01 AM, 26th April 2021, About 3 years ago
Reply to the comment left by Chris @ Possession Friend at 24/04/2021 - 21:14
This comment is not helpful. Grassing up implies there is wrongdoing which you don’t want reported.
If a landlord is in breach of the law I woukd want that reported it helps to improve standards.
The phrase you use immediately implies criminality.
For me any landlord be not providing safe and clean accommodation should be reported.
But the problem is that minor infractions can sometimes be dealt with vet heavy handed.
What’s needed is a fairer system. I had an inspection on an hmo and there were a few minor gpfaukts found. I received a letter outlining the problem asked to correct the faults in 28 days, warned of the consequences if I didn’t.
I got it sorted reinspected and all is well. I thanked the man from the council for his help and off he went smiles all round.
I dare say if I had a major fault it may have been different but as a professional landlord it’s my job to make sure my properties comply.
Yes there are councils employees who are jobsworth and power. Mad and are looking to prosecute but this wasn’t my experience.
Anyone else had a good interaction? I think LD like to scare us and tell us about the bad ones but I’d like to know if other landlords have had reasonable interactions..
Landlord Phil
10:27 AM, 26th April 2021, About 3 years ago
Chris, the problem, as always, is funding. We have the NRLA, but they have to earn cash through training to exist. Many of us are disillusioned by the almost daily emails they send, so don't buy into them. Gov, on the other hand has funded Shelter with loads of cash, more than we could ever give the NRLA. It's an unfair playing field, hence my wish they should be abolished, or at best have the gov funding removed in law. It doesn't really matter what we do, we can't do more than a gov funded charity that's in existence to pander to a political agenda. We'd need someone from dragons den or the like to go head to head with shelter in a fair fight. So all we can do is make sure that joe public doesn't feel the need to donate. I urge everyone to spread the word that a donation to shelter is just helping the gov in their aim to eliminate the PRS, pay salary to the undeserving & waste a well intentioned donation.
Whiteskifreak Surrey
10:44 AM, 26th April 2021, About 3 years ago
Reply to the comment left by Landlord Phil at 26/04/2021 - 10:27
Perhaps we can start with educating B&Q and M&S who proudly donate to Shelter?
Landlord Phil
11:26 AM, 26th April 2021, About 3 years ago
Wow, I didn't know that. I imagine there's a whole load of others trying to be socially responsible that do the same. It's hard to influence companies, I know, I own a couple. If only there was a charity that did something good for the homeless, but at the same time outed shelter for what they are. They'd get my cash in a heartbeat.
Trapped Landlord
12:30 PM, 4th May 2021, About 3 years ago
Let them house them then !!