Rent crisis: how bad landlords avoid punishment

Meet the enforcers taking on the worst landlords in this housing crisis. They work for England’s councils and their job is to help renters by finding bad landlords and punishing them - the problem is, they say they’re losing the fight.
[Watch previous episodes in our Rent Crisis series here: • Rent crisis: is it tim... ]
Around 1.6 million people in England are privately renting homes that pose an imminent risk to their health and safety.
And when landlords fail to act, renters are advised to go to their local council for help.
But based on data obtained from 252 councils in England, we can reveal the majority of councils have issued fewer than 10 financial penalties to rogue landlords in the last 5 years.
And many have issued none at all.
The renters reform bill making its way through parliament promises to give more power to councils to do that.
But the sector is already at breaking point and environmental health officers say they’re doing all they can, even if they want to do more.
If you are affected by any of themes in this film visit Channel4.com/Support
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Reporter - Milena Dambelli
Camera - Holly Snelling and Matthew Lucas
Editor - Matthew Lucas
Executive Producer - Kieron Bryan
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[@TobiasStarling]

Unless you’re rich in modern Britain you’re fucked.

[@thecreativemillenial]

got it all in one

[@mrstephenpariah]

That's the plan. Why invest in facilities for the people when you can just cut down on people?

[@nicktaylor5264]

New Zealand speaking - our "housing situation" is officially, according to the UN, a humanitarian crisis - and that was before covid and things have got a lot worse since then... and that's under a labour government, who because they haven't fixed the problem are very likely to get voted out in 2 weeks and replaced by a bunch of tory cunts who are all fucking landlords. The prospective new PM owns 7 houses. It's global. And we can't go on like this

[@dayah9667]

Well said

[@madameversiera]

Yep, in London you have to pay over 800 pounds at least to have the priviledge to have a decent room with no mould.

[@roni7172]

If you are renting out properties as a form of income, then you're running a business and should be subject to business regulations.

[@kotare86]

😮

[@shh_you_are_wrong]

Landlords ARE subject to business regulations, unfortunately there are a large number of unethical people that don't declare what they are doing, they exploit people from within their own ethnic group and often make a large profit from the taxpayer as well.

[@WhichDoctor1]

13 years of savage cuts to local authorities budgets, as well as the courts system, means most councils don’t have enough money to inspect these landlords let alone prosecute them. and even if they try to take legal action the courts system is soo bogged down that it takes years for anything to happen. Time which continues to cost the councils money and in which the councils budgets are still continually shrinking. This is just like every other corner of Tory’s broken Britain. No money for the poor or the sick or the young. But plenty of money for the friends of ministers and donors to the tory party

[@shh_you_are_wrong]

@@WhichDoctor1 you could license landlords but remember that the costs will probably be passed on to renters. And it might be difficult for councils to police this when some of their own properties are substandard.

[@ganumaster6464]

So I should pay business tax of 25% and not 55% personal tax, right?

[@senzen2692]

"Landlord blames bad weather" priceless.

[@Accountforstuff]

I bet the landlords house which experienced the same bad weather is definitely in JUST as bad a state! Honest! Brass neck of it

[@katjaxxx7353]

lol

[@nicolasbenson009]

The issue is that either the renter or the owner must in some way pay insurance and property taxes if they want a "permanent roof" with utilities like electricity, gas and water. Because of this, many people-at least in California, where I currently reside-are living in tents. No taxes, rent, mortgages, or insurance. The number of people who tell me they live in their car that I meet amazes me. Its crazy out here!

[@bernadofelix]

Personally, I can connect to that. When I began working with "'Margaret Johnson Arndt," a fiduciary financial counsellor, my advantages were certain. In these circumstances, I would always advise getting professional help so they can steer you through choppy markets and just give you indicators and strategies for knowing when to enter and exit the market.

[@bernadofelix]

renowned for her proficiency and expertise in the financial market, ''Margaret Johnson Arndt’’ my financial advisor, holds a broad understanding of portfolio diversification and is recognized as an authority in this domain.

[@susancrawford5927]

Well, in Toronto where I live, all rent payments include a portion that covers a percentage of the property taxes, tenants are required to take out Apartment Insurance (for theft and damage to personal contents only). The landlord is required to manage the property, including all necessary repairs. No tenant is required to pay for damages due to age or wear and tear (except painting if they want to). It depends on the Lease wording with regard to utilities and whether they are or are not included. The original lease agreement is carried forward until the tenant moves out, with rent increases decided by the cost of living % each year as outlined by the provincial gov't.

[@user-kq5qp6dh8l]

1 st world country in name only: Victorian slum dwellers .

[@SolidSonicTH]

Unchecked capitalism sounds good when the sky's the limit but it's absolutely oppressive when you realize how much distance there is between you and the sky and you have to build your wings out of twigs. The people who are already soaring took all the good supplies before you and bought up the rest to sell back to you, it's such a struggle.

[@Buddhavibez]

Greed is the one single biggest and ugliest trait one can possess

[@RGE_Music]

Greed will be the end of man

[@abestatham7982]

blame eve for that

[@topkatspride]

This negligence is brazenly and obviously criminal! It's reprehensible that the so called authorities do damn near nothing! Unbelievable! 😲

[@voicesrilanka1356]

Government should stop BUY TO LET landlord from INCREASING THE RENT. Its not the TENANT who is responsible for their mortgage. JUST because the BANK increased the Interest why does the TENANT Have to pay ? Its very unfortunate that some of the COUNCIL officers are working with the LANDLORDS AND ESTATE AGENTS in order to push the tenants beyond their limits. the worst thing is that THEY WORK TOGETHER TO give social housing to whom they wish not to the actual needy. which in turn doesn't help the housing rather it makes it worse.

[@ganumaster6464]

I accept this is bad but I don't think any landlord would be ready to hand over their property in this condition.

[@robe1811]

@@growsethjones7249not necessarily, it depends how many boxes you tick. If you are single and able bodied with no protected racial characteristic the council only has a duty to give you cursory help to find somewhere else (temporary homeless hostels etc). This “help” is time limited (8 weeks iirc) and even that “help” can be withdrawn unless you do your share of the work. It’s pretty much a form filling exercise rather than something that costs serious time and money for the council and the threat of homelessness at this point for the person involved is very real.

[@tonyadams8812]

And yet , if Council Warden sees someone dropping a chocolate wrapper on a pavement ..........,.

[@tonyadams8812]

And then when someone loses their life out trot the usual statements such as ....... 'Lessens will be learned', ''Root and branch changes'' ''We would like to offer an apology''

[@FailedFlea93]

How is is legal that landlords are able to rent out buildings in such appalling conditions?

[@mcfcguvnors]

2 words = Margaret Thatcher

[@chester6343]

​@@mcfcguvnorshow did you come to that conclusion brainiac?

[@anonomous8719]

@@mcfcguvnorsincompetent government

[@ojbeez5260]

@@chester6343 @mcfcguvnors WOW mcfcguvnors truly is Genius Level intelligence...wow , wish I had that level of political intuition...why is @mcfcguvnors not the ruler of the free world or even planet earth...Wow..just so...so insightful. By the way people...the sky is blue...aren't I amazing?, I can tell that!

[@paulmessenger9836]

Is it better than a tent

[@pcsimking]

As a landlord i expect my tenants to live in the same conditions i do, take care of your tenants and you will find you have little to no issues, and dont deny people a home just because they are on benefits, ive found people who recive UC are more likley to pay on time in full rather than some of my working tenants

[@sianthesheep]

thank you for saying that - I'm on benefits and we are treated like criminals and repeatedly denied housing by private landlords even though we are equally or even more likely to be responsible tenants.

[@URFUTUREUK]

It's so true, tenants need to be treated like people, and taking rent for a service they aren't providing is certainly criminal.

[@jamiekenleyuk]

Our right, it's as if their is a full group of people who think they are posh that stereotype people on benefits and who live in more affordable estates. Well its blatantly obvious that they havent met many because they'd see they are more loving, caring and respectful than their vein counterpart.

[@DavoInMelbourne]

We rented out our house in Wiltshire for 10 years to a family and we really looked after them. When we asked them to move out as we needed to sell up, they punched holes in the walls, poured paint over the carpets and pulled an awning off a wall. It cost almost 3k to fix up and our property managers (Chappell & Mathews in Chippenham) wanted us to return all their deposit. Not a great experience but at least they did leave.

[@ImpartialDebater]

The problem is you can't guarantee who you give the rent to what type of people they are. And that makes it a big issue. They might make more damages in the long term or they might take very good care. But thats very subjective.

[@playcloudpluspc]

Any such properties should be forcibly seized by the state unless there is a huge and immediate improvement. That would soon make these landlords buck up.

[@alexdiaconu7979]

How about renting elsewhere as a tenant? No one is forced

[@alexdiaconu7979]

@@-...-zed-...- everywhere, especially out of London, you can rent a house up north with £500. It’s all about the mindset. It’s you choice if you want to be a victim in this situation or use your intelligence to come up with ideas to change your life

[@christopherlyndsay8611]

@@alexdiaconu7979actual bootlicker. Landlords should have to keep good conditions, full stop.

[@jakereevesward4562]

@@alexdiaconu7979 Spotted the dodgy landlord everyone. No wonder he's out here defending them tooth and nail.

[@alexdiaconu7979]

@@jakereevesward4562 what? “Dodgy landlord”😂 no, it’s not me

[@livelife5947]

There needs to be a ban on owning more than one property in the U.K. excluding housing associations & councils. Private landlords have absolutely destroyed the housing market.

[@Alpffine]

Communist, see how's that working out in Ireland, toughest laws against property owners.

[@thahleel]

I think nearly every politician in Britain, Tory labour or otherwise own at least 3 properties in their own names. So you have got more chance of pigs flying than a ban on additional home ownership

[@christinaedwards5084]

Council housing is unfair! so what do regular low/min wage workers do? They live in private shared housing with strangers because that’s all they can afford. Council housing is the issue, it rewards lazy, stupid, incompetent, reckless, useless people housing they overwise wouldn’t have. That limits housing supply and increases competition for housing. It’s the only reason the private rental market grew. Otherwise a couple on min wage could of bought their own property. And it stands they can’t get a mortgage as they earn too little and so have to rent and compete with gimmegrants and everyone else with their begging bowl.

[@skycloud4802]

And a ban on foreign owners.

[@jamescaley9942]

Seriously? The one case where a child died and it was blamed on the landlord not fixing the mold it was a local council / housing association property. These are amongst the worst landlords.

[@cmsacademy1673]

Reality is the uk is no longer a world power. People abroad think this is a wonderful place and everyone has a butler. But reality is hard

[@spaliverpool71]

Hiya be Ho !! Only 1 butler ?! Who do you take me for? I am the Lord of the Manor and I have never felt more insulted 🃏

[@biyumusic]

Literally nobody thinks that 🤣🤣😅 You think too highly of yourself.

[@user-tb7qz7id6t]

but the poor and unskilled keep coming and they have to demand the precious resources the country doesn't have, hence a housing crisis.

[@cmsacademy1673]

@@user-tb7qz7id6t the housing crisis has zero to do with people coming. The only reason people come is because our population decline is severe. There are empty properties everywhere. I work weekends S a delivery driver in London and I often go to 30 floor apartment blocks with less than ten occupied apartments as all the rest are bought by the wealthy as investment properties. Kensington is empty. What we need is construction and quality.

[@jasonking6892]

First offense 5,000 fine second offense 10,000 Finally 50,000 fine Banned for 10 years of owning any rentals ..just for starters Scumbags..👍

[@sakhter4044]

Brilliant the government need to take your free advice seeing as there own brain doesn't work. Reform needed too many greedy landlords.

[@onengkusumah2905]

just send them back to where they came from, see if they like it better

[@robertjones2053]

How you going to prove the tenants are not at fault?. 80% of mould in private rentals is caused by tenants lifestyle...

[@jasonking6892]

@@robertjones2053 good point ..

[@robertjones2053]

@@jasonking6892 the best solution is to make it more attractive and less risky for a landlord to rent a decent home out. The problem is one bad tenant can cost the landlord 30k and thats their pensions gone... All the laws are in the tenants favour and guess what happens. The "nice" property is not available to rent and less people become landlords choosing to keep houses empty as its actually more cost effective.

[@tal-lancer]

We don't just need more people like Darren, but we need more people like Darren in meaningful positions of power

[@bobjames6622]

No, we need to get rid of people who do NOT belong in our country.

[@zainabmohamoud2931]

... is he single?!

[@aye3678]

These landlords ARE CRIMINALS! Laws need to be updated. They need to be held accountable. Disgusting that this is happening in Britian.

[@eattherich9215]

The government has now scrapped the proposal for all rental property to be brought up to energy performance grade C. Scumbag landlords can now carry on regardless.

[@helenbaker1117]

The tenants don't have to live there, they could just move out

[@ganumaster6464]

It's because the landlords are seen as criminals that has brought this situation in the UK. If you rent a car, are you not liable for all damages? In UK, if you rent a house, the tenant is not liable for anything? I think this is crazy. Once you rent a house, the tenant should be responsible for everything, including repairs.

[@blazzz13]

@@ganumaster6464 car = liability. house = asset. So false equivalency you are trying to draw there.

[@ganumaster6464]

@@blazzz13 I'm not sure what you are talking about.

[@eattherich9215]

Those are the sort of landlords who will issue a section 21 if the tenants dared to complain.

[@agnesphilips2714]

We need the return of council flat housing. We were able to house people in the 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s and 90s. Why can't we do it in 2023?

[@nodoubtaboutit]

Because they knocked them all down, even though they were built very well.

[@spaliverpool71]

​@@nodoubtaboutit Whole areas in Liverpool were demolished just to build apartments that look all the same 😢

[@mishmash7776]

They need to restart building them cos we are all barely surviving right now, and I presume that includes the middle classes

[@psi-man]

They sold them all off under the Right to Buy scheme. It was a terrible idea.

[@spaliverpool71]

@@psi-man I used to live in one of those houses right next to Smithdown Rd. Eventually the whole street got knocked down with one of the EU funds. They were claiming it was cheaper than repairing them. Now whole areas lost all the character 😶

[@DivineLove247]

There should be a National Register for both Landlords and Tenants,.... So Bad Landlords and Tenants can be avoided.

[@alexdiaconu7979]

You can see a hole in the ceiling at your first viewing as tenant. It’s now that difficult to spot “bad landlords”

[@Solihul886]

​@@alexdiaconu7979time determines a bad tenant and landlord. Not one hole (out of context on size or everything else). Do we use the same logic for a tenant applicant that wears joggers to the viewing?

[@richardbicknell2140]

I am a good landlord with 100% happy tenants, I have never evicted. One tenant has just vacated. a few months ago she had a difficult time, I was supportive and understanding helping her to get back on her feet. How did she repay that gesture? By leaving the property and garden full of rubbish, filthy dirty, infested with fleas etc. Will cost between £4000 and £5000 to get back to a standard for letting. Lets have a tenant register which would identify rogue tenants. Lets also have a few Ch4 reports on rogue tenants because there are plenty of those about. Stop painting all landlords with the same brush

[@alexdiaconu7979]

@@Lorraine777 you cannot know everything in advance about a tenant, some become rogue along the way

[@Solihul886]

@@Lorraine777 I agree to that somewhat. But if you screen your tenants more particularly you get damned regardless. You're damned if you do, damned if you dont

[@tictoc5443]

Overcrowding and poor ventilation are also a factor with this

[@ganumaster6464]

But that is up to the tenant to choose the right size of the place. Or is it the landlord's responsibility as well?

[@Tjfcr]

This country is a joke.

[@salehothman449]

This is SICKENING! You're either in it for investment and receiving rental, if you can't afford to maintain, give it up all together and sale. It's unacceptable!

[@Eldermonkey25]

The UK is not a rich country. Living conditions in general are very poor. The wealthy live in lovely properties and wealth is concentrated in a small percentage of people. The general resident of the UK isnt rich, taxed to death and living in pretty poor conditions.

[@spaliverpool71]

What a bleak picture of the society. 20 % inflation for essentials. Some on zero hours contract too 😿

[@nicholasr39]

I can confirm you are very correct

[@leptir7110]

Hvala na informaciji

[@nickybrooks6942]

I wish I could say this is a new problem but sadly it isnt . I was in hospital having just given birth over 30 years ago when our landlord moved us to a new bedsit within the same house , i got home to find we had a woodlouse infestation in both the kitchen and bathroom area along with mould . On top off this our electricity meter was also connected to the caravan they rented out behind us meaning that we were paying for their electricity even though the tenents of the caravan were paying the landlord for the supply . What made this even worse is that the landlady worked for social services , the very people who are supposed to help families in need !

[@louisegould8840]

It's absolutely horrendous trying to rent in the UK. I'm in Glasgow and I had to pay 6 months in full plus deposit. I had been looking for a flat for 6 months and couldn't even get a viewing as the viewing is fully booked in 10 mins. This is the problem I am having with a full time professional job, I can't imagine what other problems other people are having.

[@spaliverpool71]

Oh my God !! That's really weird. In Glasgow. It must be full now. So there was no reason to believe you were a liability? Been there 15 years ago, not much luck with employment (unlike my next stop in Manchester) but it was not too difficult to find a property: from a horrible bedsit in a nice area to a flat in a rough one 🙀

[@jonathanjonathan7386]

dis you vote snp?

[@Accountforstuff]

​@@jonathanjonathan7386did you vote tory?

[@jonathanjonathan7386]

@@Accountforstuff no but by letting in 1,000,000 immigrants in the space of a year they too, along with the snp, have caused massive damage to the private rental sector

[@Accountforstuff]

@jonathanjonathan7386 1m migrants in the space of a year are living in hotels, detention centers and with relatives already resident in the UK, not rental properties. The current situation is caused by unregulated air B&bs on top of lack of house building. In my area the estate agents have recently posted pleas for people with second homes to get in touch about renting them as they have huge waiting lists of people and no properties available. Meanwhile air b&b has dozens of properties available for £100+ a night. If the average monthly rent even goes to £1000 that's just a month of weekends of Air B&B stays before they make a profit for any stays through the week. No point renting flats out monthly any more.

[@hrtdinasaurette3020]

I wonder what the limit will be on population in the U.K.? It hardly seems fair to keep encouraging everyone to keep coming, whilst knowing full well we do not have the amenities/infrastructure to care for those already here.

[@fintamaria2429]

Unless you’re rich in modern Britain you’re fucked !!!😢😢😢😢

[@AbhineetAsthana13]

"Poorer Landlords" sounds a bit oxymoronic

[@jamiekenleyuk]

the average landlord is a regular worker who works full time. they spend half their working life living within their means and saving up cash, investing it untill they are able to own 2 homes, the one they live in and the one they rent out as part of a pension plan or gift to their children when the times right. They seem rich because unlike renters, they dont tend to live paycheck to paycheck thanks to great budgeting and financial planning. I'm not a landlord btw, i just done a lot of research on the subject over the years for various reasons. i do own a home that i had to make alot of sacrifices for 3 years to save a 20% deposit on. All the motivation i needed was paying someone elses mortgage. We also bought in a cheaper location. its been 8 years now and the mortgage is 207 a month and we have very low streess and dont have to work like mad men. you live in the UK by the looks of it, no one here is truly ''poor'' go to a real 3rd world country and pretend you have it hard compared to an average landlord.

[@countesscable]

The mail in the coffin was flogging off council houses for peanuts. Those ex-council houses are often bought up by private landlords to rent to people that would previously have been waiting for a council house.

[@woden3894]

The nail in the coffin was increasing the population by 20+ milllion since 1997.

[@mrsthatcher9815]

anglela rayner?

[@countesscable]

@@mrsthatcher9815I presume you mentioned Angela Rayner because you assumed I was a Labour Voter…I’m not. Hands down though, this is absolutely the worst government in recent history. It’s hard to see how Labour would do any worse. Even though I don’t vote for them.

[@mrsthatcher9815]

@@countesscable im going to spoil my ballot paper....

[@SickPrid3]

Those houses should be seized by govt and turned into social housing Landlords who rent out properties like this should be thrown in prison

[@ganumaster6464]

And all benefit seekers should have their iPhones and cars taken away from them because they didn't earn it, right?

[@Nellia..]

A family of six living in a one bedroom flat😢

[@HumansAreShitFactories]

Why move in then? Work harder, afford more. If you can’t support them, don’t spawn. Simple.

[@italianstallion9170]

yes but a LL wouldn't have houses 6 in his flat 1 or 2 then they bring n their family extended family. stop blaming LLs all the time.

[@jaderavenwolf6137]

sponging so called asylum seekers , they shouldnt be housed , and they should be sterilised before they aree allowed into the country

[@spaliverpool71]

The B man breeding like crazy, perhaps with a W woman too, saying he commits suicide if he doesn't get more benefits, a larger house 😂😂😂

[@melissachartres3219]

In this particular case- it's not extended family. It's a couple who are living off of benefits that decided to have FOUR children whilst living there.@@italianstallion9170

[@aaronburge7608]

Housing shouldn't be a business but if it is then put in rent controls.

[@seanrm]

Between 2000 and 2023 the UK population has increased by around 15% - approximately 9 million more people. That's roughly equivalent to 20 cities with the population of Leeds, or 15 cities the size of Bristol. During those years, if you haven't seen those cities being built (complete not with just new houses & flats, but also with schools, hospitals, GP surgeries, dentists, emergencies services, shops, parks, roads, buses, trains, power & water supplies, drainage...etc) then, therin lies the root of just about every crisis people currently face in broken Britain: The UK does not have, has never had, any kind of coherent long-term plan - for anything.

[@nodoubtaboutit]

The government haven't even got a plan for next week. Honestly I think it's way more than 15% probably more like 25%

[@contingency9]

These people can hardly speak English and rely on the British tax payer to pay for them. It is disgusting to complain and expect to live in the UK for free. Criminal landlords what about the criminal tenants leaching off working people who just expect to be paid for disgusting!

[@annfoster6116]

We call them slum landlords - they need to be held accountable !

[@nameundefinedname5307]

this is insane

[@ChrisMinusHumour]

Landlords that rent unsafe properties should be forced for do repairs and renovations or give up part ownership to the tenant who will do the repairs themselves. There needs to be serious financial consequences for these landlords. There are so many great landlords by the way.

[@damianmarkland8543]

750,000 more people every year. As long as this is the way government artificially increases growth, the housing crisis will simply get worse.

[@DonnellOkafor-pd7yn]

Exactly and the majority of them have no skills and can't speak English

[@handleisGG]

Islington Council left me with no hot water since 2017 in a derelict house, they repaired and updated the outside to make it look more appealing but the insides are all in horrific and health hazardous conditions

[@spaliverpool71]

Use a kettle. I don't have hot water and still have my showers hot. But maybe you can afford the central heating scam too. Hooray !! 🤯

[@davidlloyd3116]

I remember renting a multi-occupancy house in Watford, U.K…the refrigerator was replaced, and unknown to me at the time (before plugs were mandatory on appliances and it was expected that we wire up plugs, and even taught in school how to wire them up correctly), I went to the fridge after work to grab some milk, and I was hit with a massive electric shock. The landlord had removed the fuse in the plug, and assumed the brown wire was earth (the same colour as earth), but that’s the live wire in the uk (blue is neutral and green/yellow is earth). He had wound some copper wire on the fuse to stop it from blowing. If I had washed my hands in the kitchen with wet hands, I would have been killed. The landlord also kept the heating controls for the house in the locked cellar, and we only had two hours of hot water and heating even in the middle of winter, with 5 occupants. He also made one of the (female) tenants do all his laundry for him, ironing and pressing shirts, for no reward. She was a refugee from Sri Lanka and clearly exploited. Tenants in the U.K. have no chance of ensuring liveable conditions, and it’s a disgrace and another form of rampant exploitation.

[@MultiOpolis]

I work for a government agency and the guys words "if we had more resources we could do so much more". Everyone needs to realise that the people in the council and the civil servants want to do more, but you can only work with the money that you are given, no one can work miracles

[@adrikhankant6170]

devil landlords and useless builders, great combo

[@simondaly9960]

What gets me, is that this is the norm, and has been since long before Victorian times. While Legislators (HM Govt) refuse to enable Laws allowing Local Authorities to act quicker, and lots of MPs and Councillors are Landlords themselves, then we have a housing rental system that is not fit for purpose.

[@DavidBennell]

Yeah 3,266 complaints, 49 penalties, 10 prosacutions...... and 3,266 tenants evicted.

[@HorseSaddleRider]

I wonder why housing benefit/Universal Credit makes rent payments to these landlords? You would think they would only pay if they were fit for purpose. Oh yes, it's almost as if they want the private sector to bear their responsibilities for them. UC should withold a proportion of the rent until repairs are made.

[@AchtungEnglander]

The lack of investment in property (people own) is staggering. Its not just renting, if you ever been on the house market I bet you have seen properties asking top dollar (pound) but need at least £30K worth of improvement. Unbelievable.

[@ganumaster6464]

Well, it's not cheap to improve a property. The simple thing is, if the tenant don't like what they see, they don't have to rent it. Once they rent it, they have to look after it.

[@AchtungEnglander]

@@ganumaster6464 You are a landlord.

[@ganumaster6464]

@@AchtungEnglander I'm just not a left wing socialist.

[@discokitchen7053]

local authorities can't do anything because they rely on private landlords to meet their own statutory duties. They are both tenant and regulator. So of course they turn a blind eye. Absolute mess.

[@2525Hudson]

As a landlord i cannot defend of course these awful properties, but don't expect the RRB to sort out this issue, a lot of councils are bringing in licensing schemes, all that happens there is good landlords register and pay the massive fee and the bad landlords don't bother !! As you have seen in the video the councils have no staff to enforce this brazen lack of adherence. The good landlords then just divide the fee to the council between 12 months and hey presto, the tenants rent has gone up. Its crazy, the councils know which properties need to be improved, there does not need to be a license scheme, there just needs to be more staff and enforcement from the councils !!! All the RRB will do is drive out the good landlords like myself and leave the dregs of the PRS, the ones who don't follow the rules and never will. They need large fines and the shutting down of their properties, if they are not improved in a certain amount of time then the council takes a charge over them and does the work themselves, thus owning part of that property, its really not that difficult. The good landlords have little concern for this as we are NOT the problem. The masses of recent govt intervention are ensuring that landlords are selling up at a massive rate, this is very bad for tenants, if this does not stop then there will be slums the likes of which we have not seen since the 1880's.

[@cdean2789]

These rogue landlords need locking up.

[@eattherich9215]

Confiscate their assets, too.

[@mohacs1000]

A shortage of housing stock and more refugees arriving. I can't see the situation improving anytime soon.

[@mcfcguvnors]

7 k migrants just in derby shows the real issues here people bumped off housing lists ( i KNOW THIS IS A FACT ) dodgy MPs working with traffickers ( proven ) fast tracking migrant claims for cash ( proven ) where do all these people expect to work ?

[@user-dg6bl2ry2y]

The landlord appealed on what basis?

[@paulmackintosh9964]

He appealed cos Government and Councils don’t give a toss about real people!

[@eyeconphotographyandproduction]

Thank god we are emigrating from the UK February can’t come fast enough! My grandparent’s and great grandparents who sacrificed so much in both world wars would be rolling in their graves if they were alive today!!!

[@spaliverpool71]

That's not surprising at all Immigration Nation 🙀 N.ians will have more space By the way could I inquire where are you going? Best of luck

[@mirabella2154]

Where are you going to ?

[@jess_o]

Jail slum lords

[@derekwhite2929]

Much worse than that here and even the paramedics have complained about how dangerous these conditions are for me And nothings changed!

[@nowsheenanwar291]

Give whatever penalty you want, the landlord can afford the fine and make a new tenant pay for it You really want to prosecute a landlord - the council should claim the property back, decorate it and let the tenant continue leaving no stone unturned for the landlord to take the house back No mercy, don't care how much money and hard work you put in that house, you don't want to respect the house/flat, you don't want to respect the tenants (tenants you need to respect the house/flat as much as you can) and bye Oh Prince William- where is your support when you said you will help with homelessness- said it once, not heard anything since

[@alexdiaconu7979]

Well why have you chosen that property as a tenant in the first place? They can break the lease and leave if they want. You can obviously see a hole in the ceiling at your first viewing, I hardly believe it just pops up after you move in

[@nowsheenanwar291]

@@alexdiaconu7979 the housing market is so competitive, I'm sure it's not easy to actually find a place for 1200 a month here in london. If there is, I'm sure anyone who is looking for a place and reading our comments would be happy for suggestions. I know I don't have any, do you?

[@alexdiaconu7979]

@@nowsheenanwar291 there are plenty outside London, they can move you know? There are plenty of DIY tricks to solve mould issues. And besides that, you’d truly choose a ruin of a house just because you can’t find something else in London? I’m sure you’d use your imagination and come up with solutions, other than begging the landlord to fix the house.

[@nowsheenanwar291]

@@alexdiaconu7979 yes, a tenant should do their utmost best to maintain the place they live in, I agree but you are now suggesting moving out of London, what about employment, education of children, the environment they are so used to, just go and up I can give you an example, I have been told by my craftsman that there is mould in my place and instead of telling the landlord this, I pay it at my own expense and fix the walls -i have no mould but wouldn't that give the right for the landlord to sue me because I destroyed his walls?

[@nowsheenanwar291]

@@alexdiaconu7979 overall, I am not clear with all the legal credentials about this and I am fortunate enough that I am not in a situation like this as well. However, I do know there is no point in fining landlords, once the house is taken away from them and pockets are hit, that's when there will be change.

[@tastypymp1287]

They don't have to live there. Problem solved. Next?

[@user-bi8ko7kc6h]

When I was an university student I met some really bad landlords who owned over 10flats and refused to do anything for the property. Conditions were bad when moved in. My mate got mushrooms in her flat… mine was better but with broken bed, took 6 months waiting until a guy came to replace a part and a hole on the wall. Landlord even tried to charged me for the hole when I moved out, luckily I took pictures of the whole flat on the first day I moved in with email to proof that I told the agent immediately. However, my parents let our family home to a gp doctor when they went to work aboard, when they returned, tenant refused to move out, took us 7 months to kick them out and the house condition was bad with broke handles, broken window, kid’s drawings everywhere on the wall etc. Bad landlords and bad tenants both exist. We need laws to protect both sides.

[@starstar4344]

House that I’m living in for 6 years is just like this water leaks bathroom , toilet , roof many disrepairs. Water got into electric and fire service had to attend. They informed living standards/ council and not much had been done. They told landlord to fix the electric and leaks . He got his friends to give him electric certificates and just exchanged few little things. He just patched hole in ceiling from leak but nothing else. If I complain he will give me notice so we live in damp and many things not working properly. We get sick a lot with my son. It has effected every aspect of our lives. Living standards don’t care she said landlord can’t afford.

[@andrewcleverly1322]

If you don't find a means of multiplying your money, you will wake up one day and realize that the money you thought you had, had been exhausted. Investment is a ladder to climb the financial wall.

[@lukeben1596]

Everyone needs more than their salary to be financial stable. The best thing to do with your money is to invest it rightly, because money left for saving always end up used with no returns.

[@cassiejacobs4197]

Am looking for something to venture into on a short term basis, I really need to create an alternate source of income, what do you think I should be buying?

[@andrewcleverly1322]

​@@cassiejacobs4197Cryptocurrency investment, but you will need a professional guide on that.

[@andrewcleverly1322]

Facebook 👇

[@andrewcleverly1322]

Evelyn C. Sanders

[@deboraleggerini5729]

I'm sorry but refugees complaining about the competitive private rental market living off benefits!? "Please take care of us!?" Please start contributing first before demanding. It's not popular to say but wake up and smell the coffee.

[@bryonyrigby2468]

Did you know that asylum seekers are legally not allowed to work? These people may even have been doctors or teachers in the countries they were forced to flee from to save their lives. The situation is more complicated than just 'get a job'.

[@116tem]

The UK should collapse, these greedy persons renting flats and houses in terrible conditions and at extortionate prices should be stopped. Horrible people and system, the working class always suffer and the rich get richer and we’re screwed basically

[@Rita-tr6cq]

All world is going to collapse, the problem is greedy companies ( shadow gouverment ) is pulling strings and sucking money where they can, they don't card about general public.

[@roadaheadmedia]

A TV documentary some years ago highlighted the case of a landlord prosecuted and ordered by the court to upgrade the property. The programme followed up but months afterwards the landlord still hadn't taken action and there didn't seem to be any legal follow up.

[@sakhter4044]

We need more regulations and bigger fines for landlords that don't listen.

[@ojbeez5260]

@@sakhter4044 Doesn't matter, I even went to court and won against my Landlord. Still a year later the work is not done - even with an improvement notice. Seems like landlords can just ignore indefinitely and nothing happens even if the ignore everyone.

[@spaliverpool71]

Once my existing estate agent in Liverpool was relocating us in order to get more from the overseas students. The shared house I was put in, to my astonishment, was inhabited by Jamaican drug-dealers. Not the nicest of people, loaded, always on spliff + the occasional hooker and wanting you to pay for their heaters working 24/7. Anyway the washing machine was permanently broken. There used to be police raids as well 🎭

[@ganumaster6464]

Will they do a documentary on bad tenants?

[@ganumaster6464]

@sakhter4044 And those tenants who damages property and don't pay rent on top of that? Would you like to be a landlord?

[@mishmash7776]

Most of us don’t even go to the council for fear of being kicked out.

[@jgg204]

A lot of these dilapidated rentals are owned by absentee foreigner landlords

[@madwisdom4929]

Who are the landlords? Put their names and faces on line.

[@OsamaSaeed972]

Why not name the landlord who refused to comment? These rogue ones won’t clean up their act until some of them become infamous

[@JASuperflex1]

Those bad landlords are evil tbh. Its always 10 minute reports on this housing crisis we are in from where I am standing its the tenants that really suffer whether it be high rents and scum properties, why has this gone on for so long different year same bs

[@Dragon34th]

Clarion housing, worse, Harringay council worse. That's the reality in London 🙁

[@joshuadooley5236]

Haringey council is shocking!

[@spaliverpool71]

So why not going somewhere else if it is so awful ?! 👻

[@joshuadooley5236]

@@spaliverpool71 i did, I moved to cheshire. But it took 3 years to leave because they are so bad!

[@spaliverpool71]

@@joshuadooley5236 WoW. You've been a brave girl. And Cheshire is mostly posh, I guess 🎯

[@joshuadooley5236]

@spaliverpool71 Ive ried to make the best of a bad situation. It's lovely here and yes Posh, I'm in good company lol

[@nodoubtaboutit]

The council to step up? I'm in homeless accommodation from the council, it's been deemed unfit to live 6 months ago. I'm still here, my child has asthma. The foundation is sinking and the main beams in the roof are cracked. We're going to end up dead.

[@emmajones8590]

And they want it all nice and clean and well repaired and beautifully painted when you move out.

[@jacquelinewilson2279]

Better off to live in a tent than the mould infested slumlord properties. Disgraceful - save the money and go to a caravan park or get a tent. The welfare state no longer exists - there is no longer any "responsibility" for the state to provide what these people want. There are so many homeless people now across democratic countries. It has now become an accepted part of society. Awful.

[@spaliverpool71]

One can fight mould with a certain spray, at least, if there's not too much of a leak / Don't paint over it. As for homelessness, some of them didn't get much schooling and are addicted to substances 😢

[@kenderareawesome]

When almost all of the conservative MPs are landlords what do you expect but differential treatment to landlords at the expense of everyone else.

[@user-xd3cz8so5j]

Our voice is our power, we will continue to speak up, until they treat us with Dignity, justice , Freedon and Respect

[@bankylaw3745]

Oh it's so damn hard to get the houses up to code....blah blah blah....fix it within the month or you won't have a house to rent it's that simple

[@jameslucas129]

600 pounds for a house? We can't even get a 1 bedroom flat for under $2000 here.

[@spaliverpool71]

But are you in the States? 2 grand is more like a rent in the Big Smoke / Planet London 🤖

[@eattherich9215]

'600 pounds for a house?' That is in Derby, which is in the north of the country where property is much cheaper than in southern England.

[@spaliverpool71]

@@eattherich9215 Usually the price of the property also relates to the type of jobs they have in that area 😎

[@user-zo9dq6qc3c]

I can tell you for sure that this type of disrepair would not be tolerated in most cities in the U.S.

[@faraboverubieskerry]

Why does the man at the end assume that the landlords not choosing to fix their properties are poor...? They are just greedy bastards...not necessarily poor. As a toxic mold survivor I shudder when I see these images. No human...no pet ...should be living with that kind of deadly mold. Period

[@MrStarsuicide]

In my country 🇺🇸 RENT CAN BE WITHELD until landlords make repairs . That includes eliminating mold. Utilities don't work, the building is damaged , black mold? Stop paying rent until the landlord fixes that. There's nothing the landlord can do other than make repairs .

[@LucianaTomas-uf3cn]

When we complained they came after us, I was devastated living in Miami Beach My landlord was awful,he never took care of anything in my building ,im looking for a better place,I will move soon 😢😢

[@yetidodger6650]

the tories have refused to protect private tenants because the tories are private landlords.

[@teddyfung1992]

I suggest the people should raised it he issue to their MP and set a rule to regulate the landlord. Increase the penalty to 10k. And sue them.

[@lulusmith4877]

This is criminal to rent out these dumps shocking and sad that people have to live like this 😮

[@tjmarx]

It's all good and proper to say a landlord should do this or should do that, but I wonder how many landlords have the cash to immediately make those repairs on hand. This is why being a landlord shouldn't be a simple case of listing a property for rent. There should be more hurdles, such as a requirement to hold a trust for the property with a minimum amount of funds deposited prior to listing, and a percentage of all rental payments deposited into the trust each cycle. This would ensure a ready fund of monies available for short notice repairs.

[@nicholasr39]

Well there should be a Funds for liabilities scheme either bonds,savings or an insurance scheme to make sure they have the money to cover repairs. It's like a domino effect, if they don't fix one thing quickly, it effects something else and then everything starts to fail and then you find £20,000 worth of repairs is needed.

[@tjmarx]

@@nicholasr39 Bond is for securing against the tenant, not incidental repairs. Insurance likewise isn't for incidental repairs and wear & tear. It's for accidents, thefts and acts of nature. It really does need to be held in a legislative trust as liquid currency prior to listing plus an ongoing percentage of rent. Just as an arbitrary example, say 2% of the market value of the property at the time of listing, plus 12.5% of rental income on a per property basis. Drawings on the trust would need to be accompanied by proof of need. There would be a need for statutory requirement that the initial capital not come from loans. There are multiple benefits to doing it this way • It ensures the landlord always has cash on hand to effect repairs in a timely manner. However prevents the landlord drawing on the trust for things it isn't intended for. • It raises the bar of entry such that only those whom already have the existing wealth to invest in a repairs trust can enter. This changes the calibre of landlord in the market and drastically reduced the instance of slumlords. People looking to get rich from the property market on borrowed money would all but cease. Existing wealth looking for long term investment would be the primary landlord. • Discourages business investment and limits any individuals portfolio as a separate trust is required per property. • Discourages frivolous or opportunistic evictions, as the amount required in trust is calculated as a percentage of market value at the time of listing. That means if the market value of the property increases and thus rental potential then to access that higher rent you either need to negotiate with the existing tenant or have additional savings to add to the trust, thus negating any immediate benefit to increased rents. Section 12 evictions should still be banned, but such a scheme would really push the market back into the direction where the rental market has been until quite recently.

[@robe1811]

It’s simple common sense isn’t it? If you can’t afford to be in business you shouldn’t be allowed to be. This is why it makes me laugh when all the small landlords start wetting their knickers and crying about how unfair it will be when corporate landlords with buy to rent units squeeze them out- it won’t be an ideal solution sure but it will at least take these “hand to mouth” landlords who can’t even afford repairs out of the game. Corporate landlords will at least have the funds to provide repairs whilst also providing no worry of ever coming round to issue a section 21 and reclaim the property. We might finally see the day when most tenants have a security of tenure provided they behave

[@tjmarx]

@@robe1811 One only needs to look to the north american rental market where corporate ownership is much further advanced to see how big a mess that is. Corporations are worse than the get rich quick crowd. Both are seeking quick ROI. Corporations have greater means to track ROI, and will ruthlessly seek it. What works is what has always worked. Individual, couple or partnership landlords, with existing wealth looking for long term hands off investment, managed through estate agents.

[@declanl311]

A number of insurers already offer landlord insurance. That's up to the landlord if they want to absorb the cost or take the risk with their property.

[@jerryorange6983]

Why do they always show extremes and they never show how tenants can destroy nice properties?

[@dragonflymoki]

A tenant completely fried the electricity circuits of a whole floor in my property after repeatedly using an ill-fitted electrical device. Tenants can be nightmares as well

[@HumansAreShitFactories]

Because it wouldn’t fit their narrative and the changes they’re gradually bringing in, turning the screw on small time private landlords whilst making it easier for big companies.

[@jerryorange6983]

@@HumansAreShitFactories have you heard about lld licencing another way to tax landlords and increase rents?

[@singlelegstretch]

There needs to be a better contract between the landlord and the tennant. The property should be handed back at the end of the tenancy in good condition and this is the tennants duty. In Germany you are required to paint the apartment before leaving. Surely those who wreck property lose their deposits?

[@jamiekenleyuk]

its because the current agenda is to bring bad press to Landlords only, just look at the heavy policy changes that are making landlords sell up. Guess whos buying them up aswell, not renters lol... Loyd's bank to be exact. Now the UK's largest landlord so i read. Its not for the renters benefit its for even larger corporations, afterall the renters dont have the capital to buy houses, even in good times.

[@RendererEP]

Student homes are also an issue

[@melissachartres3219]

The majority of these complaints from renters on benefits. Look at the back yard... it's a disgrace. The tenants are to blame for that- not the landlord. Most of these problems are self inflicted. A couple having FOUR children while they're on benefits? Are you serious? Get real.

[@eattherich9215]

'The majority of these complaints from renters ...' living in appalling conditions created by their slumlord.

[@melissachartres3219]

Yep... username checks out. (not at all... you'd be amazed at how brutal tenants and tenants' children can be. they have no regard for anything and put literal holes in walls so often that landlords get disgusted and fed up with fixing it)@@eattherich9215

[@survivingthetimes]

600 Pounds is about $750. That first apartment is about what you would get in a small to medium size city in the U.S. for that amount of money. What's the problem? You get what you pay for. You want the landlord to rehab it and triple the rent. Don't be silly, folks.

[@greg_thomson]

So protections are there but the council do nothing to act on them or issue

[@schcbh4800]

As I said the government already has laws through the council to get landlords that I don't at appropriately so it is clear the policy makers who are normally middle-class people that have the bank of mum and dad make policies and don't research before they give MPs advice.

[@alan4291]

I worked all my life I now live in a shed I went to the council and was told nothing for me then they put 100 refugees in flats they didn't have ?

[@Energy-Moves]

Would anyone like to interview me or landlord friends who have had our rental properties trashed and illegally sublet by bad tenants, who can easily get away with doing the same on repeat to dozens of landlords? There is very little to protect landlords from bad tenants. Then landlords can't afford to refurbish their homes given the margin is now so small, and sell up, thereby decreasing the rental stock available and pushing up rental rates. But of course the media doesn't want to explore this massive issue.

[@eattherich9215]

'There is very little to protect landlords from bad tenants.' There seems to be nothing to protect tenants from bad landlords. It seems landlords and tenants in a mutually unsatisfactory relationship. If being a landlord is not working for you, sell up and get out of the business.

[@eattherich9215]

@@puppyone2020: you seem to have a lot to say here on this subject, so what is your solution to the sometimes mutually destructive relationship between landlords and tenants.

[@emmabrooker166]

You have the greater power in the dynamic though, as you well know 🙄

[@bobjames6622]

So there is a family of SIX, who do not belong here, but are on the waiting list for homes paid for by UK citizens!?!?!?!?!?!?

[@robertjones2053]

And the foreigner in the mould saying she cant move because she gets benefits. Why are these people here??

[@nodoubtaboutit]

Who knows but I'm in the same position as these guys yet I was born here and I wanna leave. But I can't claim asylum elsewhere even though I'm not safe. Makes you wonder.

[@robertjones2053]

@@nodoubtaboutit you would have a better house if there were less people here. Its basic supply and demand. There is no way we can ever built to the rate of the new arrivals. Just think about it. 650k a year arrive that nearly 2k houses a day needs to be built. Where and by who?? 😂

[@lisaknowles15]

Same thing is happening here in Australia,a lot of immigrants coming over,high rate of homeless & rent increases!

[@schcbh4800]

And the sad thing is London and other major cities are moving their tenants to places like Derby where rent is cheaper put in more pressure on these lower rental areas when people said there is no housing there's too much people where are they gonna live it was called racism now we have seen the effects of neglect of creating housing for a population that cannot afford housing and now we have middle-class people that need social housing while landlords are deciding to set up

[@mishmash7776]

Same in Birmingham. They moved people from London here into council houses, they also have a massive amount of refugees in hostels waiting for housing. So now when a landlord decides to put up the rent and people can’t afford it there’s no housing for residents , and this is happening a lot I keep hearing of people being made homeless, the council are now telling them, original Birmingham residents,to move to Liverpool or Manchester. It’s insane

[@LucianaTomas-uf3cn]

I have lived in Miami Beach, in South Beach,for many many years,so my last place is that I still live here For 13 years,my landlord raised me almost $ 1.000,00 ,I paid my rent every month $ 2.300,00 for one bedroom,small kitchen,my stovetop have holes,my wall 🧱 it's broke my AC it's liquid,my door and windows it's very bad,we be waiting for 1 year,we don't know what do we do ,please can u tell me what do 🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲😡

[@BrownyBird]

The government is the one to blame!

[@dale6497]

Should be criminally prosecuted

[@forgottenman8629]

the much much more accurate question is: how bad tenants avoid punishment...

[@Rb1_2_3]

Once S21 notices are repealed hopefully this will open the private landlord sector to legal disrepair claims. Landlords will not be so slow to fix issues with Solicitors writing to them and the possibility of court proceedings.

[@robertjones2053]

also open the door for section 8 and CCJ against tenants. 80% of mould issues are caused by tenants. It's in most tenancy agreements around showering and drying washing indoors. Do you really want a section 8 for drying your pants on a radiator?? It's a violation of your agreement. 😂😂

[@random6809]

4:22 how about you change the blind and clean the mould yourself? You have to keep on top of it, clean it with vinegar, don't just leave it!

[@cdean2789]

Peter Rachman would be proud.

[@AnaLucia-kw5gs]

My suggestion is to apply high fines to these owners and with these fines pay peo-fussionals to inspect and another part for the government to retain would be a good amount of money in fines

[@nicktaylor5264]

"A good landlord" is an irrelevant oxymoron. We heard these same arguments back when we were abolishing the slave trade. The relationship between the tenant and the landlord is fundamentally non-consensual. We need to be moving towards getting rid of them completely.