Hundreds of thousands of people in England are living in conditions which could make them ill, according to a report from a Parliamentary committee. The public accounts committee (PAC) estimated that as many as one in eight privately rented homes pose a ‘serious threat’ to the occupants’ health.
The findings also uncovered evidence of unlawful discrimination, with 25 percent of landlords unwilling to let to non-British passport holders. With the demand for rented accommodation higher than ever but supply staying at the same level, renters are being forced into overpriced, poorly maintained and ultimately dangerous properties.
Rightmove said private rents in Britain were rising at the fastest rate on record in January. This is piling more pressure on tenants in a time of crisis for millions of households, many being plunged into poverty.
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In 2017, out of the 28 EU member states, the UK had the 12th highest poverty rate. In the committee report, it said it was “too difficult for renters to realise their legal right to a safe and secure home” and under budget constraints, local authorities did not have the support or capability to provide tenants with sufficient protection.
Some 11 million people live in privately rented accommodation and the sector has doubled in the last two decades. For many owning your own home has become a distant dream.
Some 589,000 of privately rented homes in England had at least one ‘category one’ hazard – a serious threat to health and safety that landlords are legally obliged to address, according to the report. Despite this, only 10 landlords and letting agents have been banned by local authorities since 2016.
Health hazards in your home may not become apparent immediately and are not always noticeable like damp or mould, which can severely damage lung health. According The Tenants Voice, tenants should contact their landlord or whoever is responsible for property maintenance if they spot any of the following:
- Damp/mould
- Fire and carbon monoxide alarms which don’t work or they are missing
- Light bulbs that pop frequently, or blink and flicker and switches that don’t work or make bad contact
- Power sockets that spark or output unstable current
- Dark yellow or brown burn marks around light switches or power outlets
- Burned or molten plastic covers, tripped fuses or exposed electrical wires
- Appliances which give you a shock upon touch
- Loud buzzing or crackling sounds from power boxes and electrical appliances
- Frequent power jumps or failures
- Loose roof tiles, masonry, gutters
- Broken windows and joints
- unstable stairs
Gas safety
Potentially deadly carbon monoxide should trigger a property’s alarm, but they have been known fail on rare occasions. Humans cannot smell, taste or see the gas but it does have an impact on health.
If you develop the following symptoms, take immediate action if you believe it to be as a result of carbon monoxide poisoning.
What signs tenants need to look for:
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Breathlessness
- Collapse
- Loss of consciousness
The National Gas Emergency number is 0800 111 999.
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