Ex-agent jumps aboard mould-risk bandwagon...

A former lettings agent who now helps tenants take legal action against landlords says 25 per cent of the complaints he has received this year relate to damp and mould.

Ajay Jagota runs Veriwise, which he calls a tenants’ rights organisation. He claims 45 per cent of complaints from renters received by Veriwise this year related to the condition of properties – with 25 per cent relating to damp and mould specifically.

He says the ’mould capital’ of the UK is the East Midlands, which generated over a quarter of the damp/mould complaints.

Analysis of the figures also indicates that the West Midlands has the biggest problem with vermin and pests – with nine per cent of calls for help received from the region relating to this, the highest percentage in the country.

The North East has the biggest problem with deposit disputes with 21 per cent of complaints received from the region relating to this.

The East of England has the biggest problem with illegal evictions with 18 per cent of complaints received from the region relating to this, the highest percentage in the country.

And he claims 43 per cent of London renters who contacted his company raised legal issues about the behaviour of their landlord or letting agent.

Jagota does not give any absolute figures to support the percentages.

He says: “2022 has been an extremely tough year for renters, with rents rapidly rising while standards of housing appear to be continuing to decline…Whatever the issue, it’s clear from these figures that too many renters have to endure unsafe and unsanitary housing or landlords unwilling to meet their legal obligations every day.”

Jagota used to run KIS Lettings with branches in Sunderland, North Shields and Welwyn Garden City; it was recently sold to a larger firm called My Property Box.

At one time Jagota also operated a rent guarantee scheme which has now folded.