A Sunday Mirror fight to make rented homes safer has been backed by MPs.
A Commons debate led by Labour ’s Ian Byrne piled pressure on the Government to stop dithering over moves to hit bad landlords.
Our Safe as Houses campaign demands a national landlord register where those who let out properties would be forced to prove they met essential safety requirements.
We also want to see an end to no fault evictions, where tenants can be turfed out of their homes if they complain about poor conditions.
Mr Byrne thanked us for our work in the chamber.
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He was moved to act after reading the stories of two of his Liverpool West Derby constituents in our newspaper.
Seven-year-old Alexa-Leigh Blakemore was left brain damaged after being crushed by an unstable fireplace which her family’s landlord refused to fix.
And mum-of-three Claire Wanless, 29, faces a no fault eviction after complaining about a range of problems in her home, including a cannabis farm left in her loft.
Mr Byrne said: “Shamefully, we have a system that means a private renter has more than a one in 10 chance of living in a home that could kill or seriously harm them or their children.
“Let that fact sink in - how can this be allowed to continue? We must remind ourselves that it is 2022, not 1822.
“During the height of the pandemic, renters were trapped in unsafe housing while the Prime Minister was apparently picking out new wallpaper.”
The government is consulting on a national landlord register, but has yet to make any firm commitment to introducing one.
MPs said this week they felt this would help make landlords more accountable and spark a crackdown on unsafe living conditions in private homes.
One in five private homes currently don’t meet the government’s decent homes standard.
And the debate heard that a category one hazard - which could cause death or serious injury - was identified in a shocking 12% of private lets.
MPs told how babies’ cots have become infested with cockroaches and ants and pregnant women have been advised their damp houses could seriously harm their unborn babies.
In another case, a young mum living in a mould ridden flat had no heating or hot water for 18 months.
The government promised to scrap no fault evictions in 2019 - currently permitted under section 21 of the housing act - but has repeatedly stalled on bringing forward legislation.
Since then, 25,000 families have been forced to leave their homes, despite having done nothing wrong. Some have ended up living in caravans or budget hotels.
A ban is expected to be included in the forthcoming renters’ reform bill - but it remains unclear when this will come to parliament.
Mr Byrne cited research from Citizens Advice which found private tenants who complained about disrepair were 46% more likely to receive an eviction notice.
He said: “Many renters are fearful of evictions if they raise complaints, because they cannot afford to move house in the middle of this appalling cost of living crisis.
“My constituent told me, ‘Section 21 takes the humanity out of the situation and that’s precisely the problem. We are human and lives are being carelessly destroyed.’
“The power imbalance means that the mental pressures facing renters are built into this broken system.
“New legislation must have real teeth and be enforceable.
“A renters reform bill must end no-fault evictions and create a national landlord register and licensing scheme to improve accountability and ensure that legal standards are met.”
Shadow solicitor general Ellie Reeves spoke of a constituent in Lewisham West and Penge with serious health problems who’d been devastated by a no fault eviction.
She said: “She wrote to me stating that the whole experience had pushed her to the verge of suicide.
“I know it is difficult to hear, but policy decisions have a very real effect on the hardest hit.”
Tory MP Eddie Hughes, parliamentary under secretary for levelling up, housing and communities, told the debate: “We have ambitious plans to create a vibrant private rented sector that is safe, healthy and fit for purpose. I share others’ determination to address these problems.”
Polly Neate, Chief Executive of Shelter, said: “We’re grateful to Ian Byrne MP for calling this important parliamentary debate.
“Renters are being held back by the nightmare conditions they’re stuck living in.
“From the horror stories MPs shared in parliament, it’s clear this is happening in constituencies across the country.
“Every day our emergency helpline hears from tenants who are paying through the nose to live in mouldy, cramped and dangerous homes.
“Far too many are too scared to complain for fear they’ll be evicted. The broken private rental system is taking a huge toll on tenants’ health, education and life chances.
“From the renter who was hospitalised because of dangerous conditions through to the mum who was kicked out of her home for complaining about mould taking over her baby’s cot.
“Enough is enough. We’ve had warm words from government, now we need action. The government must bring forward its Renters’ Reform Bill now if it’s to help level up the country by making private renting safer and fairer.”
