Here we are at another Newsround, let’s see what’s been happening in the housing news this week.
Tenants told to complain more
Michael Gove has launched a new government campaign ‘Make This Right’ which urges tenants to complain to their landlords about sub-standard problems in their homes.
If no recourse is forthcoming for social housing tenants, then the campaign tells encourages them to escalate to the Housing Ombudsman.
Funding is also being given to Citizens Advice staff in two pilot areas, and there will be adverts running on social media platforms. Michael Gove says
Too many social housing tenants are being let down and ignored. This government is determined to stand up for them and give them a proper voice. They deserve a decent, safe and secure home, just like everybody else.
So we are shining a light on rogue landlords that ignore their tenants time and again and allow families to live in disrepair. This campaign will make sure tenants know their rights and how to make a complaint – giving them the confidence to go to the Ombudsman and ensure action is taken.
The government has found via the social housing resident panel that 65% of members had experienced unsatisfactory resolutions following complaints to their landlord. You can read more here.
Council kicks off an anti mould campaign
Hackney council has put some £400,000 extra funding to their enforcement team to help towards tackling private landlords who do not deal with mould and damp in their properties. This is in addition to extra funding it has put into social housing as well. They have committed to a five-day turn around on all damp and mould that are reported, and a next day repair programme.
This has been running since December and they claim that they have responded to over 70 reports of damp and mould in the PRS sector and each one has been acted upon within five days of enforcement notices being served. Hackney Mayor Philip Glanville says
We’ve already announced clear plans to tackle damp and mould in council properties – this additional investment we are making available in this year’s budget will mean we can provide the same support for private renters.
Sam Moema, Mayoral Advisor adds
This funding boost will allow us to use every power to raise standards of accommodation and challenge rogue landlords in the borough, while we continue to lobby the national government for the protections that our private renters deserve.
Letting Agents show more appeal
A new survey carried out by Kellie Steed, a buy-to-let expert from Uswitch has identified that 63% of self-managing landlords would consider using a letting agent or property manager. This is mainly due to landlords not wanting to deal with repairs (31%) but also the current uncertain times for landlords with rising mortgage costs, the impending renter’s reform bill and ever changing legislation.
Repairs and property maintenance is estimated to cost landlords one-fifth of their income. Kellie Steed says
Switching to a letting management company offers some attractive advantages, and gives landlords the scope to hold onto their investment. Property managers have a strong knowledge of the market’s changing regulations and can also take on much of the responsibility of owning investment property: lettings, repairs, rental disputes and complaints can all be tackled by an agency. Many offer increasingly alluring packages for landlords in return for around 10-20% of profits.
You can read the full article here, where there is a breakdown of the statistics.
Planning rule breach results in large fine
A landlord who did not seek to get planning approval for converting a basement in one of his houses into three tiny flats and building a sub-standard rear window extension on the roof of another property, has been ordered to repay £42,637.20 for illegal gains and in addition to this another £10,000 in fines and costs.
Despite losing appeals, the landlord still failed to comply with the council. He pleaded guilty in court. This followed a long investigation starting in 2015 until finally coming to court in 2021.
A councillor for Southwark council said
Everyone deserves a good quality place to live. Planning rules and space standards make sure that new developments are good quality and a decent size.
This was a shameless attempt to shoehorn three tiny flats into one basement, along with an illegal roof extension. This outcome serves as a warning that we will not tolerate planning breaches. It also supports us in cracking down on those who try to benefit from renting illegal and sub-standard properties in Southwark.
All planning breaches at the properties have now been resolved.
Free Loans must be offered to landlords for EPC upgrades
Propertymark has called on the government to initialise interest-free loans or grants to help landlords cover the cost of EPC upgrades. The clock is ticking for landlords to comply by an energy efficiency rating of C from April 2025 for all new tenancies along with a cap of spending £10,000 which some say is too high.
Propertymark has recommended that the Development Bank of Wales, where Wales has some of the lowest property values, could offer grants or interest free loans to landlords to help them decarbonise and to finance retrofit. It also suggested that landlords buying properties in need of significant work should pay a lower stamp duty.
Propertymark predict that 40% of properties in England and Wales would not be upgraded to a ‘C’ EPC rating in time without any help.
Timothy Douglas, Head of Policy and Campaigns are Propertymark says
We’re really pleased to see that our proposals such as the availability of interest free grants for landlords, requests for an agreed timetable and milestones for the sector, the production and inclusion of a clear decarbonisation strategy, alongside calls for the Minister to provide clarity on how she will raise awareness have all been recommended to the Welsh Government.
We now urge the Welsh Government to act upon these recommendations and work with the UK Government to introduce policies that allow landlords and homeowners to decarbonise their homes and properties in Wales.
Ikea backs Shelter to raise awareness of homelessness
Ikea has teamed up with Shelter to raise more awareness on homelessness, saying that 21% of adults are worried about loosing their homes and admit that they would really struggle finding somewhere else should that happen. Furthermore tenants are now taking on second jobs and skipping meals in order to afford their rents.
Ikea has launched ‘Real Life Roomsets’ in four of its largest stores where they describe roomsets as
Cramped, dangerous, and grotty spaces that an increasing number of people who are experiencing homelessness are forced to experience when living in temporary accommodation.
A spokesperson for Ikea says
With a shortage in social housing, some families are finding themselves living in temporary accommodation for years, and are very often asked to move several times with short notice.
Polly Neate, Chief Executive of Shelter says
A grotty hostel or B&B is not a home, but this is the reality for too many families stuck in temporary accommodation. That’s why we’re working with IKEA to show the grim living situations that families who become homeless are having to face – from having no space for children to do homework or play, to having to share beds, to being moved miles away from schools and support networks.
The solution to this crisis is simple and it’s staring the government in the face: we must build a new generation of good quality social housing that people can actually afford to live in.
It will be interesting to see how effective this campaign will be.
Snippets
Rental market shows no sign of slowing as rents continue to rise
Most £1000 licence applications ‘omit vital information’
Cowboy HMO landlord given £8,000 fine over ‘horror house HMO conversion
HMO landlords urged to share views on controversial council tax re-banding consultation
Landlords warned over Section 13 rent rises after Court of Appeal decision
Eco-tax breaks for green landlords under consideration – Propertymark
NRLA chief rebuts claims that he ‘misled’ MPs about PRS shortages
Trading Standards issues warning after letting agency fined
Scrap VAT for landlords trying to improve EPC ratings – call
Newsround will be back next week.