A Labour government would “hold landlords to account for
mould-infested homes” as a staggering 1.6 million children are
growing up in rotting properties, it’s been revealed.
Labour’s Deputy Leader Angela Rayner has today pledged to extend
a new law to compel landlords in the private rented sector to act
promptly to eradicate mould and household hazards within a strict
timeframe.
The change would see an extension of ‘Awaab’s Law’, which is
currently restricted to social housing, to apply to the entire
private rented sector.
It comes as more than one and a half million children in England
live in cold, damp or mouldy private rented homes in the UK,
according to data from Citizens Advice.
Additional analysis from Labour shows 14.2% of people privately
renting across the UK are experiencing ‘category one’ hazards,
which includes dangerous forms of damp and mould. Nearly 11% are
experiencing damp in their homes.
Labour is urging the Government to back the extension of Awaab’s
Law in amendments to the Private Renters Bill, due to be debated
in Parliament in February.
Awaab’s Law was introduced by the Government following the tragic
death of two-year-old Awaab Ishak from a respiratory condition
caused by mould in his home.
, Labour’s Deputy Leader
and Shadow Levelling Up Secretary, said:
“Under this Government, renters are being hit by a triple whammy
of spiralling bills, skyrocketing rents and mould-ridden housing.
There is no justification whatsoever for letting private
landlords off the hook for resolving mould and damp issues in
their properties.
“The private rented sector has widespread problems with damp,
mould and cold, driven by the poor energy efficiency of privately
rented homes. It is a no-brainer to extend Awaab’s Law to the
private rented sector and that is exactly what Labour will
do.
“Any good landlord will already be checking their properties
regularly and thoroughly for damp issues. But I say to those
landlords who are failing to provide safe, quality housing for
their tenants, I am putting you on notice.
“Where the Conservatives have sat on their hands, Labour will
stand up for tenants and do what is necessary to establish a
fairer, more secure and more affordable private rented sector.”
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