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  1. Published on: 01/05/2017 07:33 AMReported by: roving-eye




    Labour pledges ‘consumer rights revolution’ for renters as it reveals £80 million a month in rent going to bad landlords in the North West

    Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State for Housing John Healey has today pledged that under a Labour government there would be a ‘consumer rights revolution’ for renters, starting by introducing tougher legal minimum standards for all private rented homes.

    Mr Healey will say Labour’s new minimum standards will empower renters to “call time on bad landlords” letting out dangerous or sub-standard homes and who are being let down by Conservative Ministers who have weakened key legislation.

    Labour analysis released alongside the pledge shows for the first time the cost of the North West’s 154,717 sub-standard private rented properties, 28% of the private rented properties in the region. Tenants in the North West are spending £80 million every month on homes which the government classes as ‘non-decent’. Around a quarter of this– some £2.3bn a year nationwide – is paid by housing benefit.

    At present, there are effectively no minimum standards for private renters, and tenants are reliant on over-stretched council environmental health teams to weed out dangerous homes rather than being able to take matters into their own hands.

    Mr Healey will point out that in practice people have “fewer rights renting a family home than you do buying a fridge-freezer”. Consumer rights legislation is limited in housing so while consumers will normally get protections requiring that goods and services are ‘satisfactory quality’, and ‘fit for purpose’ with clear redress and ‘repair or replace’ provisions, there are no equivalent protections for renters.

    A Labour government would consult with landlords and relevant professionals on new legal minimum standards to ensure properties are ‘fit for human habitation’ on specified criteria, for example:
    - safe wiring and appliances
    - freedom from serious damp and vermin infestation
    - appropriate water and sewage facilities
    - appropriate facilities for the preparation and cooking of food
    - general good repair.

    Research by Shelter in 2014 found that six in ten renters (61%) have experienced at least one of the following problems over the last 12 months: damp, mould, leaking roofs or windows, electrical hazards, animal infestations and gas leaks.

    As part of Labour’s five point plan on standards announced today Mr Healey will also pledge new powers for councils to license landlords and tough fines for those who flout the rules.

    Shadow Secretary of State for Housing John Healey MP said:

    “Our homes are at the centre of our lives but at the moment renters too often don’t have basic consumer rights that we take for granted in other areas. In practice you have fewer rights renting a family home than you do buying a fridge-freezer. As a result, too many are forced to put up with unacceptable, unfit and downright dangerous housing.

    “The number of families renting from a private landlord has soared since 2010 but decisions made by Conservative Ministers have made it easier for a minority of bad landlords to game the system. Most landlords provide decent homes that tenants are happy with, but these rogue landlords are ripping off both renters and the taxpayer by making billions from rent and housing benefit letting out sub-standard homes.

    “After seven years of failure the Conservatives have no plan to fix the housing crisis. The next Labour government would go further and call time on bad landlords. We’d introduce proper minimum standards to put renters back in control, and give councils the powers they need to tackle the worst offenders.”

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  3. said says:01/05/2017 07:46 PM
    Quote Originally Posted by roving-eye View Post




    Labour pledges ‘consumer rights revolution’ for renters as it reveals £80 million a month in rent going to bad landlords in the North West

    Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State for Housing John Healey has today pledged that under a Labour government there would be a ‘consumer rights revolution’ for renters, starting by introducing tougher legal minimum standards for all private rented homes.

    Mr Healey will say Labour’s new minimum standards will empower renters to “call time on bad landlords” letting out dangerous or sub-standard homes and who are being let down by Conservative Ministers who have weakened key legislation.

    Labour analysis released alongside the pledge shows for the first time the cost of the North West’s 154,717 sub-standard private rented properties, 28% of the private rented properties in the region. Tenants in the North West are spending £80 million every month on homes which the government classes as ‘non-decent’. Around a quarter of this– some £2.3bn a year nationwide – is paid by housing benefit.

    At present, there are effectively no minimum standards for private renters, and tenants are reliant on over-stretched council environmental health teams to weed out dangerous homes rather than being able to take matters into their own hands.

    Mr Healey will point out that in practice people have “fewer rights renting a family home than you do buying a fridge-freezer”. Consumer rights legislation is limited in housing so while consumers will normally get protections requiring that goods and services are ‘satisfactory quality’, and ‘fit for purpose’ with clear redress and ‘repair or replace’ provisions, there are no equivalent protections for renters.

    A Labour government would consult with landlords and relevant professionals on new legal minimum standards to ensure properties are ‘fit for human habitation’ on specified criteria, for example:
    - safe wiring and appliances
    - freedom from serious damp and vermin infestation
    - appropriate water and sewage facilities
    - appropriate facilities for the preparation and cooking of food
    - general good repair.

    Research by Shelter in 2014 found that six in ten renters (61%) have experienced at least one of the following problems over the last 12 months: damp, mould, leaking roofs or windows, electrical hazards, animal infestations and gas leaks.

    As part of Labour’s five point plan on standards announced today Mr Healey will also pledge new powers for councils to license landlords and tough fines for those who flout the rules.

    Shadow Secretary of State for Housing John Healey MP said:

    “Our homes are at the centre of our lives but at the moment renters too often don’t have basic consumer rights that we take for granted in other areas. In practice you have fewer rights renting a family home than you do buying a fridge-freezer. As a result, too many are forced to put up with unacceptable, unfit and downright dangerous housing.

    “The number of families renting from a private landlord has soared since 2010 but decisions made by Conservative Ministers have made it easier for a minority of bad landlords to game the system. Most landlords provide decent homes that tenants are happy with, but these rogue landlords are ripping off both renters and the taxpayer by making billions from rent and housing benefit letting out sub-standard homes.

    “After seven years of failure the Conservatives have no plan to fix the housing crisis. The next Labour government would go further and call time on bad landlords. We’d introduce proper minimum standards to put renters back in control, and give councils the powers they need to tackle the worst offenders.”
    Surely the horse has already bolted from this stable and is part of the reason that several landlords are selling properties? Under the Conservatives when Cameron was PM, a white paper was issued in Aug 2015 on this very issue. In fact a government letter was sent to all councils advising how to recognise rogue landlords and what action could be applied. 'Dealing with Rogue Landlords A Guide for Local Authorities August 2012' Earlier this year, May has stated that rogue landlords will receive hefty fines for poor quality accommodation. Labour are only adhering to the Conservative policies - not introducing anything new.

  4. local says:01/05/2017 09:40 PM
    Who is going to enforce these new standards the present ones are often ignored.

    Too many people chasing too few properties and more arriving every year means people get desperate and stay in places they should be leaving.

  5. gazaprop says:02/05/2017 01:54 PM
    The Labour Party are following a well trodden route of promising anything they like whilst secure in the knowledge they won't have to deliver on anything.
    I look forward to offers from the Labour Party of free, luxury return travel to the planet Zarg with fast track boarding thrown in.


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