25^th Nov 2018

Clive Betts, the Labour MP who has the responsibility of chairing the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee in the House of Commons, is pressurising the government to explain exactly how it is tackling the rogue agents and landlords within the sector.

Clive Betts MP, in his role as chair of the committee, has sent a letter to the Housing Secretary James Brokenshire stating that the committee is “increasingly concerned that government efforts to protect the most vulnerable tenants in the sector are not working."

Betts cites in his letter recent the Guardian newspaper and ITV's reports that those landlords found guilty of renting out properties that are not fit for habitation, are still able to carry on receiving rent and are even being paid direct from housing benefits.

The articles and investigations highlighted the fact that many rogue landlords are 'flitting' from one authority, where they have been banned, to a different local authority where they haven't been found out.

Despite of the government's fanfare about the launch of its database of rogue agents and landlords, Betts is asking Brokenshire exactly how many 'rogues' have been entered into the database since its launch earlier in the year.

Betts wrote:“We believe it is important for the government to take steps to ensure that the new rights granted … are not illusory, and that tenants – especially those who are most vulnerable – are able to enforce them in practice … Tenants in the private rented sector need far greater protections from retaliatory eviction, rent increases and harassment from their landlords.”

The select committee is due to discuss the latest private rented sector report and how the government will react to it on November 29th.


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