13:56 PM, 4th July 2011, About 15 years ago 4
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Shelter's new survey findings
A Shelter commissioned YouGov survey has found many of Generation Rent are being failed by their landlord. Shelter are worried these rogue landlords may take on the many families that could be forced out of social housing.
Their survey found that in the last decade, 7.5 million (16%) have had trouble with their landlord and some, 7%, were too scared to contact their landlord because they were wary of the consequences.
Contacting these rogue landlords hasn’t always helped for tenants though, three million of those surveyed said their landlord still did nothing after being contacted.
The results coincide with the airing of a Channel Four dispatches documentary tonight, ‘Landlords from Hell’, looking at rogue landlords and what they put their tenants through.
Campbell Robb, Shelter’s Chief Executive said: ‘It is wholly unacceptable that people are left to live in conditions like those exposed in today’s programme. Throughout this campaign we have been continually shocked at the treatment tenants receive at the hands of these unscrupulous operators.’
Mr Robb also said he was ‘worried’ by the numbers that were being affected.
Two-thirds said they were in favour of better rules for landlords and more protection for tenants.
Mr Robb went on to say: ‘The Government has to recognise its responsibility to protect this vast and growing population of private tenants, especially as our research has proved that Generation Rent want better rules to protect them.
‘We urge the Housing Minister to work closely with all local authorities and ensure they are using every weapon in their armoury to crack down on unlawful operators, like those exposed in Dispatches. It is absolutely essential that we are sending a clear signal to tenants, landlords and local authorities that enforcing the law against rogue landlords is a priority.’
Landlords from Hell is on Channel 4 tonight, at 8pm.
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Member Since January 1970 - Comments: 97
15:29 PM, 4th July 2011, About 15 years ago
The key point here seems to be that the laws already exist to protect tenants. What is lacking is the will or resources within the appropriate authorities to enforce them.
As ever, in many trades, decent business people are carrying the cost of keeping within the law only to see other less scrupulous people trading with seemingly no consequences.
How many plumbers and electricians operate within the law only to discover that they are called in to fix dangerous works carried out by those who continue to undercut prices with unregulated works.
There is not a need for more laws. There is a need for the government to put the necessary resources behind enforcing the laws that are already in place.
Mark Alexander - Founder of Property118
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Member Since January 2011 - Comments: 12043 - Articles: 1285
15:45 PM, 4th July 2011, About 15 years ago
Too true! Tenancy deposits and the Estate Agents Act 1979 being just two examples. It sickens me to read about people who’ve been ripped off by unlicensed estate agents or lettings agents that haven’t protected deposits. Ratio of convictions to offences – who knows? It’s obviously too few and the penalties too weak, otherwise we wouldn’t hear tales of woe on a weekly basis.
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8:20 AM, 7th July 2011, About 15 years ago
I saw this programme by John Snow last week.
Clearly the individuals shown appear to have unbelievable contempt for Landlord & Tenant Laws and the full force of the authorities powers should be brought against them.
However, as usual with this type of programme, no attempt made to show how the vast majority of landlords are providing decent homes for tenants who are happy with their homes and have a good relationship with their landlord. This is not subject matter which will attract the viewing figures, of course.
I agree wholeheartedly with the sentiments of kitchenspink.
PLEASE – no more regulation sledgehammers to crack nuts – just enforce and police the current ones!
Mark Alexander - Founder of Property118
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Member Since January 2011 - Comments: 12043 - Articles: 1285
8:31 AM, 7th July 2011, About 15 years ago
Here, here! That programme has certainly stirred up a lot on controvessy. In fairness to C4 though, they did run a tenants from hell programme a few years ago which was equally one sided. Talk of the town is SARB regulation. There was no mention of whether the old couple featured on the programme sold their property before Sale and Rent Back was regulated. I understand that C4 are now looking into this for the couple.