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More people are struggling with private rented homes which are damp, dangerous and in need of significant repair claims Citizens Advice.

The national charity helped people with 14 per cent more repairs and maintenance problems between July and September this year than in the same period in 2013.

Difficulties getting repairs and maintenance is the most common problem with private rented homes reported to Citizens Advice. In the past 12 months the charity helped people with almost 17,000 of these issues.

In one case a couple with two young children were living in a rented home which had severe damp problems, causing mould all over walls and in cupboards. Their private landlord repeatedly refused to treat the damp, but after the family contacted environmental health he agreed to pay for some anti-mould paint. Not long after this he evicted them.

In its latest Advice Trends report - published to coincide with todays debate on the Tenancies Reform private members bill in parliament today - Citizens Advice highlights that one in three private rented properties in England does not meet the government's decent home minimum standard.

Yet renters in England have very few rights and find it hard to hold landlords to account over poor conditions, for fear of eviction it claims. Citizens Advice helped with 20 per cent more issues where people are facing eviction despite being up to date with rent.

The charity reports that it has seen a seven per cent rise in the number of issues around paying rent up front; seven per cent more issues where people struggle to get their deposit back; and a 15 per cent increase in the number of issues where people are harassed or illegally evicted by landlords.

One in six people in their twenties receiving help from Citizens Advice has an issue with a privately rented home.

Comments

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    "Long term Letting Agent" - well said !

    We have been in business for 25 years and manage in excess of 900 rental properties. I absolutely dread to thing how much time we have invested visiting "damp" properties and providing advice to Tenants about condensation and how to prevent the "damp" !!

    We have invested in having informational leaflets printed which are handed out on these visits and also in the move-in pack, in equipment to measure dampness in walls and that's not to mention our time visiting properties to provide the advice.

    LOL I remember personally visiting one particular place a few years ago. When I arrived there was wet washing draped over almost all of the radiators and all of the windows were closed :p

    • 29 November 2014 07:20 AM
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    I'm sick to death of hearing about allegedly damp properties where it almost always turns out to be condensation issues which are a direct result of the tenants actions. Landlords have no choice then but to evict the tenant as the tenant almost never mends their ways.

    • 28 November 2014 15:43 PM
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    I wish these various public sector bodies attacking would put up or shut up.

    There is nothing stopping them providing housing if they believe they can do so better than the Private Sector.

    • 28 November 2014 15:22 PM
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    When your landlord is Director of CAB for an area and also a local labour councillor, to whom does the tenant turn for disrepair, gas leaks, inadequate heating, leaking toilet, damp and bullying/harassment by the landlord

    • 28 November 2014 14:41 PM
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    When your landlord is Director of CAB for an area and also a local labour councillor, to whom does the tenant turn for disrepair, gas leaks, inadequate heating, leaking toilet, damp and bullying/harassment by the landlord

    • 28 November 2014 14:39 PM
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    Just a shame they frequently advise tenants to stop paying rent which unsurprisingly leads to eviction.

    • 28 November 2014 08:54 AM
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    Most Damp Problems are the result of condensation which is a lifestyle choice :)

    • 28 November 2014 08:49 AM
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