Weak regulation of private renting is leaving hundreds of thousands of tenants living in hazardous homes in England, claims Citizens Advice.

A survey of landlords and tenants conducted for the consumer group apparently reveals that many landlords don’t know or understand their legal obligations, while renters aren’t aware of their rights or don’t feel able to enforce them.

CA claims it means many tenants live in homes with health-affecting hazards such as mould or dangerous problems such as not working or missing smoke or carbon monoxide alarms.

The charity wants a national housing body for private renting to set standards, which could include creating a home ‘MOT’ setting a ‘fit-and-proper-person’ test for landlords and standardising rental contracts.

Some three quarters of landlords consulted in the CA survey, conducted by polling organisation ComRes, agree a single national housing body responsible for setting standards would make their job easier.

Three in five tenants identified disrepair in their home in the last two years that was not caused by them and that their landlord was responsible for fixing.

One in six said the disrepair was a major threat to their health and safety.

Almost one in three tenants claimed their house did not have a carbon monoxide alarm despite requiring one. This affects around 900,000 homes, CA insists.

In its survey of landlords, the research found about a quarter of landlords failed to make sure there’s a smoke alarm on each floor of all of their properties.

The same number allegedly failed to carry out an annual gas safety check or make sure that smoke and carbon monoxide alarms were working.

At the same time, almost one in three landlords said they find it difficult to keep up with rules and regulations. 

Just half did not know the potential penalty (a fine of up to £5,000) for not checking smoke and carbon monoxide alarms are in working order on the first day of the tenancy. The same proportion didn’t know the penalty for not carrying out a gas safety check.

The charity insists that despite recent legislative changes renters lack the power they need to ensure standards are consistent, and landlords and tenants lack the knowledge they need for standards to be upheld.

“Too many private renters live in hazardous homes – often with potentially fatal flaws” claims Gillian Guy, CA chief executive.

“Weak and confusing regulation means landlords can struggle to understand their legal obligations, while tenants find it hard to get problems in their homes resolved” she says.

“The government must establish a national housing body to ensure landlords let property that meet legal standards, and gives renters the support they need when they don’t.”