Labour pledges âconsumer rights revolutionâ for renters as it reveals ÂŁ80 million a month in rent going to bad landlords in the North West
Labourâs Shadow Secretary of State for Housing John Healey has today pledged that under a Labour government there would be a âconsumer rights revolutionâ for renters, starting by introducing tougher legal minimum standards for all private rented homes.
Mr Healey will say Labourâs new minimum standards will empower renters to âcall time on bad landlordsâ 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 Westâs 154,717 sub-standard private rented properties, 28% of the private rented properties in the region. Tenants in the North West are spending ÂŁ80 million every month on homes which the government classes as ânon-decentâ. Around a quarter of thisâ some ÂŁ2.3bn a year nationwide â 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 âfewer rights renting a family home than you do buying a fridge-freezerâ. Consumer rights legislation is limited in housing so while consumers will normally get protections requiring that goods and services are âsatisfactory qualityâ, and âfit for purposeâ with clear redress and ârepair or replaceâ 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 âfit for human habitationâ 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 Labourâs 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:
âOur homes are at the centre of our lives but at the moment renters too often donât 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.
âThe 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.
âAfter 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. Weâd introduce proper minimum standards to put renters back in control, and give councils the powers they need to tackle the worst offenders.â