The Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) is calling for tenants renting in the private sector to be given the legal right to ask for their money back if the property they rent turns out to have structural problems, dodgy wiring, and other health hazards.
In its report, Renting Uncovered, the Citizens Advice Bureau says that although there are plenty of statutory obligations in place to force landlords to make fundamental repairs in a rental property, there is nothing in place to prevent landlords from evicting tenants if they try and pursue their right to force a landlord to make repairs.
An Unfair System
The Citizens Advice Bureau says this goes against the Sale of Goods Act, which states that goods must be ‘as described, of satisfactory quality, and fit for purpose. So in other words, if you buy a kettle from Argos and it causes a fire in your kitchen as a result of faulty electrics, you can demand your money back under the Sale of Goods Act. But if you move into a rental flat and subsequently discover it is riddled with damp, you can’t ask for your money back from the landlord.
According to Gillian Guy, Chief Executive of the Citizens Advice Bureau:
“These days people rightly expect to get their money back if something they pay for is not up to scratch. Private renters can end up thousands of pounds out of pocket when they are let a home which turns out to be unfit to live in. We’re calling for a system which provides people with a refund if a private rented home doesn’t meet the most basic standards like safe electrics and being structurally sound.”
NLA Comments
The National Landlords Association says that the Citizens Advice Bureau is lumping all landlords under the same umbrella when it is only a few who wantonly evict tenants for asking for repairs to be carried out.
“There are times when well-meaning landlords do not respond adequately to their tenants’ needs. In these circumstances, surely education and support are more effective than penalties and demonisation?”
