Homeless families forced into mouldy and rat-infested housing

Research conducted by charities Crisis and Shelter showed that two thirds of people that were housed in PRS accommodation after making homelessness applications to local authorities were unhappy with their tenancies.

Local authorities were given new powers to end their duties to homeless people by offering accommodation in the private sector in November 2012.

But the study, which spent 19 months tracking 128 homeless people who had been rehoused in the PRS, revealed that the conditions of some private properties were so poor that some people were developing asthma and chest infections.

The report said people were being forced to move into cramped and unsuitable accommodation, with parents and teenagers forced to share bedrooms and beds with each other.

Damp and mould were reported as the most common problems, but infestations of cockroaches, mice and rats were frequently reported, making some properties uninhabitable.

The study showed that private landlords are leaving problems such as gas leaks and exposed electrical wires unresolved, with some landlords becoming aggressive or charging fees for repairs.

Campbell Robb, chief executive of Shelter said: ‘It’s heart-breaking to hear that so many privately renting families who are working hard to get back on their feet are being failed miserably. How can parents hope to give their children a better future when their homes are falling apart, making them ill, and forcing them into debt?’

Leslie Morphy, chief executive of Crisis said: ‘These are shocking personal accounts of poor and insecure living conditions which have a serious impact on people’s health and lives. With more people than ever reliant on renting privately, we must make the sector work for everyone who needs it now.  It is clear that at the moment too many landlords are not providing anywhere near adequate housing for people to live in.’

Kris Hopkins, the housing minister, said: ‘Tenants have a right to live in homes that are safe and healthy and over 83 per cent are satisfied with the quality of their accommodation.

‘We are tackling the small minority of rogue landlords – from giving extra funding to councils to tackle beds in sheds, to putting in place a package of measures to improve property conditions. However, we need to get the balance right, as excessive regulation would force up rents and mean less choice for tenants.’

To read more about the private rented sector click here.