Tell the London Mayoral candidates to regulate landlords
One of the biggest causes of poor health is someone's home. Normally if a product - whether a prawn sandwich or a bus ride - carries a health risk the person who sells it has to be regulated.
This doesn't apply if you're a landlord - anyone can set up as one without registering with the local council. If something goes wrong the council can investigate and prosecute but by that point poor ventilation in their property could already have given the tenant respiratory problems.
With 2 million Londoners depending on the professionalism of their landlord, we need a city-wide licensing system that weeds out the crooks before they can exploit tenants. Schemes already exist in several boroughs but with the sector expanding we need consistent regulation for everyone.
Please ask the cadidates for Mayor to support a city-wide licensing scheme. Please feel free to write about your own experiences.
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Individual Advice
Generation Rent can’t offer advice about individual problems. Here are a few organisations that can:
- Advice for Renters provides free or low-cost legal advice and representation from expert housing specialists.
- Shelter’s free housing advice helpline 0808 800 4444 is open 8am-8pm on weekdays and 8am-5pm on weekends, 365 days a year.
- Citizens Advice has a network of local bureaux
- A solicitor listed on Housing Law Practitioners Association
- A solicitor listed on Law Centres Network
- Safer Renting protects tenants dealing with criminal landlords, specialising in preventing illegal evictions
- Get Rent Back can help you claim back rent from a negligent landlord
- Justice for Tenants can help you claim back rent as above, and recover an unprotected deposit
You might also find quick but informal help on ACORN’s Facebook forum, and there are more suggestions on The Renters Guide.