Tougher powers are needed by councils to tackle rogue landlords forcing tenants to live in ‘hell-hole homes’.
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The LGA, which represents almost 400 councils in England and Wales, says there are many good private landlords, who councils currently work with.
However, it is also vital to tackle the minority of criminal landlords. Currently, it is very difficult for local authorities to set up licensing schemes to identify and tackle the rogue landlords. The systems of regulation are out of date, not fit for purpose and need to be overhauled, argues the LGA.
This is particularly an issue, both in the capital and urban areas outside London, where there is a very high demand for housing, and high rent, which makes it easier for bad landlords to exploit tenants.
Selective licensing can only currently be applied where there is low demand for housing or persistent problems caused by anti-social behaviour. The LGA wants to see the Government’s criteria widened to include areas which have a high proportion of badly managed private properties and homes in a poor condition.
According to latest government statistics, almost five million homes (22 per cent) in England are not deemed to be a decent standard. A third of these were in the private rented sector.
Some tenants – many with children – are being forced to live in damp, overcrowded, filthy, cockroach-infested homes with unsafe wiring.
One private landlord from north-west London was fined after leaving his tenants without central heating or hot or cold water for 15 months. A court heard that the family of three had to buy free-standing electric heaters for their home, carry buckets of water up the stairs to flush the toilet. They were forced to go to motorway service stations for hot showers three times a week.
Cllr Mike Jones, Chairman of the LGA’s Environment and Housing Board, said:
“There are many good private landlords and councils want to work with them to ensure we have good quality housing.
“However, there are also a minority of criminal landlords – and for these rogues, there should be no hiding places. It is unacceptable for some tenants to live in dangerous conditions in the 21st century. The criminal landlords are damaging the reputation of the private rented sector. Councils are doing everything they can to support and protect tenants against rogue landlords, particularly at a time when ever-increasing numbers of young professionals and families are renting.
“One way for councils to address this growing problem is to introduce private property licensing schemes.
“Local authorities are doing everything they can to ensure that private sector rented properties are well managed and meet a good standard. The vast majority of landlords provide good quality accommodation and councils work well with them. However, the current system undermines the good work they are doing by limiting councils’ ability to stamp out poor quality and dangerous property conditions. This is why we are calling for it to be overhauled.”
