Third of private rented homes fail basic health and safety standards, new analysis finds

‘The extent of the crisis facing Britain’s private renters is revealed today as new analysis shows millions of tenants are living in homes that contain dangerous safety hazards and have been deemed unfit for habitation under Government standards.
Almost a third (29 per cent) of homes rented from private landlords fail to meet the national Decent Homes Standard – meaning they either contain safety hazards or do not have acceptable kitchen and bathroom facilities or adequate heating – according to exclusive analysis by The Independent.
In total, 1.4 million households containing several million people are currently living in unsafe or unsuitable rented accommodation – almost 20,000 more than in 2013. While local councils and social housing landlords have a legal obligation to act if their homes are deemed to be substandard, there are far fewer obligations on private landlords.’
Read more: Third of private rented homes fail basic health and safety standards, new analysis finds

Flashback January 2016: Tories vote down law requiring landlords make their homes fit for human habitation
‘Conservative MPs have voted to reject a proposed rule that would have required private landlords to make their homes “fit for human habitation”.
The vote, which came on Tuesday night, was on proposed amendment to the Government’s new Housing and Planning Bill – a raft of new laws aimed at reforming housing law.
The Labour-proposed amendment was rejected by 312 votes to 219, however.
According to Parliament’s register of interests, 72 of the MPs who voted against the amendment are themselves landlords who derive an income from a property.’
Read more: Third of private rented homes fail basic health and safety standards, new analysis finds