Nearly one in ten British people who have had issues with their landlord in the last ten years did nothing about it because they were scared of the consequences, our survey on behalf of housing charity Shelter has revealed, while under a third said that the problems were actively sorted out with the cooperation of the landlord. Two thirds of British people surveyed agree that they want stronger and clearer rules for landlords to protect private tenants.
- 16% of British people have had issues with their landlord in the last ten years
- 7% of people said that they did nothing with regards to issues with their landlord because they were scared of the consequences
- Of those, 41% say that they tried to talk to their landlord, but that he or she did nothing about the problem anyway
- Just 30% of people who have had problems with their landlord in the past 10 years said that they managed to sort out the issue with the landlord. Other responses include people leaving the property and doing nothing (13%), ignoring the problem because they didn’t know what to do (7%) and ignoring the problem because they didn’t think anything would happen (12%)
- In light of this, 66% of people agree that they want stronger and clearer rules for landlords to protect private tenants
‘Unscrupulous operators’
These worrying figures come in the same week that a Channel 4’s Dispatches programme Landlords from Hell has exposed the treatment of tenants at the hands of Britain’s ‘worst landlords’. The programme, which was shown on Monday, investigated a range of underhand tactics adopted by landlords including renting out dangerous and squalid properties and illegally renting out sheds.
Campbell Robb, Chief Executive of Shelter said: ‘It is wholly unacceptable that people are left to live in conditions like those exposed in today’s programme. Throughout this campaign we have been continually shocked at the treatment tenants receive at the hands of these unscrupulous operators. What is more worrying is that this research shows just how many people are being affected by rogue landlord practice.’
Mr Robb adds: ‘The Government has to recognise its responsibility to protect this vast and growing population of private tenants, especially when our research has proved that Generation Rent want better rules to protect them.
‘We urge the housing minister to work closely with all local authorities and ensure they are using every weapon in their armoury to crack down on unlawful operators, like those exposed in Dispatches. It is absolutely essential that we are sending a clear signal to tenants, landlords and local authorities that enforcing the law against rogue landlords is a priority.’
Shelter is encouraging people to join their campaign at on their website
