Campaigners claim latest mould data proves too many PRS homes ‘substandard’

The Government has released official statistics that shows that one in nine or 11% of privately rented homes in England have a damp problem.

This latest tranche of data from the English Housing Survey also reveals that a quarter of PRS properties fail decency standards and that 14% are unsafe.

Campaigners have jumped on the figures as proof that a legal minimum quality standard for privately rented properties need to be introduced, as expected to be included within the looming Renters Reform Act next year.

“Homes are critical to our health and wellbeing. Damp and unsafe homes are making too many private renters ill,” says Alicia Kennedy, Director of Generation Rent (pictured).

“This winter more of us are struggling to afford to keep our homes warm, putting us at greater risk of ill-health.

“We urgently need the Renters Reform Bill to raise minimum standards that renters can expect from their homes, and give them the security of tenure they need to complain without fear of eviction.

“And if the government is serious about eradicating the scourge of damp and mould, ministers must give tenants better legal support to take action against negligent landlords.”

Huge fine

This latest data from the Official of National Statistics coincided with news form Cardiff that magistrates have fined a local landlady £10,000 with £2,000 in costs for a catalogue of failures relating to a house she owns and rents out as a House of Multiple Occupation (HMO.)

Rowshanara Begum’s HMO in Blaenclydach Street in Grangetown was found to have a catalogue of faults were identified,

This included inadequate structural fire protection to escape from the property, no fire alarm system, unprotected electricity meters, defective fire doors, broken windows, unsafe electrical installations, dirty carpets, unsafe kitchen facilities and evidence of penetrating damp (main picture).

Cllr Lynda Thorne (pictured), Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities said: “HMO’s play an important role in the city’s housing stock.

“As a landlord, the financial yield from these properties is often higher than renting a family home, but renting HMO’s carries additional responsibilities and the required investment in the property to ensure that it is safe for the tenants that are living there.”