Jack Dromey has backed my view and reiterated the Labour Government's intention to regulate the private rented sector (PRS) after he said the abuse of tenants shown in Channel 4's Landlords from Hell programme was 'truly shocking'.
The programme - which uncovered families sent by councils to live in filthy, bed bug-infested homes - aired in December.
Mr Dromey stated: “The abuse of tenants that was highlighted in “Landlords from Hell” was truly shocking. Rather than taking decisive action to tackle bad landlords, this out of touch Government has labelled protections for tenants as “red tape.
More and more people live in privately rented homes. New research shows that rents are soaring and a growing amount of tenants face abuse. Labour introduced a national register of landlords, regulation of letting and managing agents and compulsory written tenancy agreements, all scrapped by Grant Shapps.
Labour policy is to regulate the Private Rented Sector to drive standards up and rogue landlords out, protecting tenants and the many reputable landlords.Teh Government have been resisting regulation on the private rented sector talking up the advantagweous role the sector plays. Clearly Grant Shapps has little or no idea how bad it is in many places such as Hyndburn. How the 2005 Housing Act is weak in providing local councillors with sufficient powers and is overly bureaucratic.
In the Government's Housing Strategy, published last month, it said it was "committed" to supporting growth and innovation in the PRS by "avoiding unnecessary regulatory burdens on landlords".It said it was also looking at measures to deal with rogue landlords and "encouraging local authorities to make full use of the robust powers they already have to tackle dangerous and poorly maintained homes".
However they have in Government scraps Labour's national landlord register and roll back the regulations on Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO's). Family houses that have been divided into flats and can be dingy and dangerous.
How exactly does the quality of rental property contribute to the rising gap between rich and poor? Low value, poor quality housing is surely wrong but I am nevertheless confused by the assertion you make here.
ReplyDeleteChanel 4 Landlords from Hell, illustrated criminals trading under the guise of landlords, its morally disappointing that corruption exists wherever there are people involved in business (well demonstrated by the house of commons), however, what the program highlighted most shockingly for me was the poor standard of council intervention, one wonders what possible defence there is for failing to monitor the standard of accommodation recommended, whilst the council operates in what is a free market?
What benefit would a register of landlords have, in dealing with the small percentage of bad landlords who are not likely to register in the first instance? That’s not to say I object to a register, I don’t, just not sure why?
Not having a written tenancy agreement is a ludicrous error and frankly a bigger risk for any landlord, you should know that any tenant in occupation without one is protected by statute and the landlord frankly has far fewer rights than he/she would have, if a tenancy were in place. All parties should be looking to educate tenants and landlords of this, if tenants were better informed of their rights (which far out way the landlords) rogue landlords would be forced from the market.
Regulation of agents is a good thing, no objections here. The housing act was 2004 not 2005, which party introduced this weak act?
Overley bureaucratic, yet you want more bureaucracy, when the current provisions are not enforced?
The council do indeed have significant powers as stated in your blog, the real tragedy in the PRS is the failure to educate all parties and to implement the powers already in place.
Regards,
Paul
On Point 1 - If people live in a place that isn't home, that is depressing and cold. Where they lack aspiration they will underachieve. In the north PRS is shocking and there are not the same ladders of escape, jobs, careers, prospects.
DeletePoint 2 - I believe in ending crony capitalism and greed in the PRS. That landlords should have a moral responsibility. Some of them don't clearly so the Council is to intervene in a cost effective and comprehensive way.
Point 3 - A register will eliminate a lot of wasted Council work, evasive Landlords won't find it as easy to get away and at the same time waste Council Tax payer's money.
Point 6 - The onus is on the Council. The onus should be on the offender. That would ease the Council's workload.
Point 7 - Current powers are weak and costly. There is no decent homes legislation for the PRS for example.
1. How exactly does the quality of rental property contribute to the rising gap between rich and poor? Low value, poor quality housing is surely wrong but I am nevertheless confused by the assertion you make here.
2. Chanel 4 Landlords from Hell, illustrated criminals trading under the guise of landlords, its morally disappointing that corruption exists wherever there are people involved in business (well demonstrated by the house of commons), however, what the program highlighted most shockingly for me was the poor standard of council intervention, one wonders what possible defence there is for failing to monitor the standard of accommodation recommended, whilst the council operates in what is a free market?
3. What benefit would a register of landlords have, in dealing with the small percentage of bad landlords who are not likely to register in the first instance? That’s not to say I object to a register, I don’t, just not sure why?
4. Not having a written tenancy agreement is a ludicrous error and frankly a bigger risk for any landlord, you should know that any tenant in occupation without one is protected by statute and the landlord frankly has far fewer rights than he/she would have, if a tenancy were in place. All parties should be looking to educate tenants and landlords of this, if tenants were better informed of their rights (which far out way the landlords) rogue landlords would be forced from the market.
5. Regulation of agents is a good thing, no objections here. The housing act was 2004 not 2005, which party introduced this weak act?
6. Overley bureaucratic, yet you want more bureaucracy, when the current provisions are not enforced?
7. The council do indeed have significant powers as stated in your blog, the real tragedy in the PRS is the failure to educate all parties and to implement the powers already in place.