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Over 40,000 homes in the
North West infested with vermin
NEW research by housing charity Shelter
has found that over 40,000 private rented homes in the North West equivalent to
1 in 13, have suffered from animal infestations such as mice and cockroaches in
the last year alone.
The Shelter and YouGov poll of over 3,700 private renters in England revealed
that bad living conditions are rife in rented homes, with 47% of renters in the
North West reporting that they had experienced problems with poor conditions or
disrepair in the last year.
Over a third of private renters surveyed by the housing charity said they had
lived in a property with damp or mould (33%), 22% suffered with poor insulation
and excess cold, while electrical hazards were reported by 17% of renters.
Last year, almost 6,000 private renters called the Shelter helpline and nearly
400,000 people visited the website for expert advice on conditions or disrepair
in their homes.
The findings come as no surprise, with recent government statistics showing that
1 in 6 private rented homes in England contain a health and safety hazard. The
housing charity is warning that huge numbers of renters are stuck in homes which
are not fit for purpose, often not knowing their rights or where to go for
support and advice.
Shelter helpline adviser Nadeem Khan said:- "Every day at Shelter we speak
to people desperate for help, after being forced to live in appalling conditions
for months on end.
Some of the housing horrors we hear are truly shocking; from people who are
forced to live in flats crawling with fleas or rats, or with water pouring out
of the toilet waste pipe, to those who've been through the ordeal of a fire in
their home caused by faulty wiring.
No one should have to live in a home which is unsanitary or unsafe, and that's
why it's crucial to know your rights as a renter. Shelter is here to help anyone
putting up with bad conditions, and our free expert advice is available
online
or through our helpline:- 0808 800 4444."
Campbell Robb, Shelter's chief executive said:- "It's shocking that
renters in the North West are stuck living in properties riddled with problems,
often paying sky-high rents for the privilege.
Imagine trying to raise a child in a home crawling with vermin or falling apart
at the seams, with a rogue landlord who refuses to fix it and nowhere else to go
because of there's nothing else you can afford. It's just not right. The
government must to do more to protect renters from the rogue landlords who let
out these shoddy properties, so that every renter can feel safe in their own
home."
Anyone having problems with their landlord can get free and independent expert
advice from Shelter at:-
Shelter.Org.UK/Advice or by calling the helpline on:- 0808
800 4444. |
