Rising cost of living puts private tenants’ health at risk

Average UK monthly rent has risen to a record high, with Rightmove reporting 17 enquiries per available rental, highlighting the opportunity for landlords to invest in quality homes

Private renters in England are being pushed towards breaking point by a generational decline in living standards and unaffordability; nearly half (45%) are living in a home with damp, mould or excessive cold – even in the summer – with 48% having suffered these disrepair issues for over a year.

The research from Citizens Advice also revealed 32% of renters have borrowed money to pay their rent, while 17% have gone without heating, hot water, or electricity. The data predicts those on low incomes will spend 53% of their income on energy and housing costs, compared to 46% of those living in social housing, and 40% for homeowners.

Damp and mould can cause a range of health problems including coughs, wheezing, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, and airway infections such as aspergillosis. It can also worsen allergic airway diseases like asthma, rhinitis, and bronchitis and in severe cases, lead to serious illness or death. Damp, mouldy and cold homes are particularly hazardous for babies, small children, older people and those with allergies.

Dame Clare Moriarty, Chief Executive of Citizens Advice said: "A warm, safe home, free of damp and mould should be a fundamental right. Yet private renters are paying through the roof for increasingly decrepit housing which eats up their hard-earned cash and puts their health at risk.”

Research from property website Rightmove revealed the UK’s average monthly rent has hit a record high both inside and outside London – £2,661 up from £2,567, and £1,314 compared to £1,231 last year. “With 17 enquiries for every available rental property, the market remains out of balance and difficult for tenants,” said Tim Bannister, Director of Property Science, Rightmove. “There is an opportunity to encourage landlords to continue to invest in good quality homes, for example through tax changes, [and] incentives to help with energy-efficient upgrades.”

"The government must follow through on its promises and improve the lives of private renters.”

This ‘double whammy’ is worsened by a lack of protection and security for tenants. Over a third of renters (37%) living with damp, cold or mould have never complained to their landlord, with 51% saying the fear of retaliation, including eviction or a rent increase, as the reason.

Moriarty said: “To make matters worse, renters have little power and live with the constant threat of eviction hanging over their heads.” Citizens Advice are helping almost 100 people a day with section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions. "The government must follow through on its promises and improve the lives of private renters. This means raising the quality of privately rented housing, tackling runaway rents, and bringing in a watertight ban of section 21 evictions so renters aren’t afraid to challenge poor conditions."

The King's Speech included a promise that Labour would act on protections for renters. This would include ending no-fault evictions; enabling tenants to challenge rent increases; applying a Decent Homes standard to the private rented sector; creating a digital private rented sector database to bring together key information for landlords, tenants and councils; and creating a new property ombudsman service for the private rented sector.