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Shelter Receives 17,000 Complaints About Landlords in Just a Year
This article is an external press release originally published on the Landlord News website, which has now been migrated to the Just Landlords blog.
Around 17,000 people have contacted the Shelter helpline to complain about issues with their landlord in just one year.
Shelter Receives 17,000 Complaints About Landlords in Just a Year
New figures released by the housing charity suggest that rogue landlords are to blame for rising cases of harassment, threats and even assaults against private renters.
A survey of almost 4,000 people conducted by YouGov in July reveals that one in ten tenants reported that their landlord had carried out an act that could have led to legal action.
According to Shelter, if the figure is equated across the whole of England, it would mean 125,000 private renters were the victim of some form of abuse from their landlord in the last year.
As well as abusive behaviour, tenants claimed that their landlords have cut off utilities, entered their properties without permission and not protected their deposits.
Director of Services at Shelter, Alison Mohammed, comments: “It’s shocking that a small minority of rogue landlords who are exploiting the housing crisis can cause so much havoc and misery in the lives of renters.
“The only way to fix the problem long-term is to make renting fit for purpose for the millions of ordinary families searching for a safe and stable home. For anybody experiencing problems right now, Shelter gives them somewhere to turn for support and legal advice when a rogue landlord crosses the line.”1
Shelter’s Helpline Adviser, Mark Cook, says: “Everyday at Shelter, we speak to people desperate for help because their lives are being made unbearable by a rogue landlord.
“Some of their experiences are truly awful – from renters who have been illegally evicted and had their belongings burned, to those who’ve had their utilities cut off because their landlord wants to intimidate them.
“No one should have to put up with a landlord who breaks the law and it’s so important to know your rights as a renter. Shelter is here to help anyone having problems with their landlord.”1
