A Private Member’s Bill containing proposed measures to help ensure rented homes are safe has been backed by the government. The draft legislation was put forward by Karen Buck MP and has been designed to safeguard tenants in both social housing and private rented accommodation.
Under the proposed law, social and private sector landlords will be required to make sure their property is fit for human habitation at the beginning of every tenancy and throughout.
Tenants will be given new powers and the option of taking their landlord to court if they fail to ensure their property meets the required standards.
Housing secretary Sajid Javid stated that while councils already have “wide-ranging powers to crack down on the minority of landlords who rent out unsafe and substandard accommodation”, public safety is “paramount”.
This, he said, is why he is “determined” to do everything possible to protect tenants, including giving them the “right to take legal action if landlords fail in their duties”.
For further information on any of the points raised in this article please contact Andrew Murray in our Social Housing Team.