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Housing Charity Calls for Measures to Tackle Dangerous Rental Properties
9th February 2012
The housing charity Shelter is urging the Government to take more action against private landlords providing dangerous accommodation and provide greater protection for people living in rented properties.
Complaints About Dangerous Conditions
In 2011 over 80,000 private tenants in England complained about their accommodation. The sharpest rise in these complaints was in the North West.
Shelter states that many people in rented homes are living in poorly maintained, unsuitable, and even dangerous, accommodation.
With high demand for rental properties in the current market tenants can be reluctant to challenge their landlords, fearing that they may be evicted from their homes and unable to find somewhere else to live.
Housing Disrepair
Landlords have a responsibility to provide safe accommodation for their tenants and most do. Unfortunately however, housing disrepair among rented properties is all too common.
Problems such as damp, mould, defective gas appliances and faulty wiring are hazardous to health and can lead to respiratory illnesses, electric shocks or carbon monoxide poisoning. Accidents in the home can also occur because of unfit accommodation, for example those caused by poorly constructed or damaged fixtures, water leaks and sub-standard facilities.
Shelter is calling for an online database listing all convicted rogue landlords, tougher sentencing and a fund to help councils prosecute offenders. The charity also wants to see tenants who blow the whistle on rogue landlords protected from eviction.
Claim Advice
If you have suffered a personal injury or illness because of dangerous accommodation provided by a landlord, you may be entitled to compensation.
Contact The Legal Line on 0800 0328511, or by completing a claim enquiry form online, for expert legal advice from our specialist personal injury solicitors.
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