Nearly 1 in 5 private rented properties in a north-west London borough have hazards that pose a serious risk to people’s health, according to recent data.
One Brent mum said the damp and mould in their house is so bad it’s ‘giving her children asthma’.
A protest took place on Wednesday (June 7) outside a rental agency in Harlesden by private renters in Brent who are members of the London Renters Union (LRU). They claim Sathy Property Services is renting out two homes that are in a “serious state of disrepair”.
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The renters union is calling on Brent Council to tackle what they describe as an “epidemic of unsafe housing” across the borough by expanding its enforcement team, inspecting more properties, and fining “dangerous” landlords.
One renter, Farhiya, said: “I’m paying £1,900 a month for a two-bedroom flat but my house has had leaks, damp and mould for two years now. It’s so bad that it’s giving my children asthma. We’ve had to go to the doctors many times.”
Black Mould. One resident said the mould is so bad it\'s 'giving my children asthma'. Image Credit: London Renters Union
She added: “But when I spoke to the landlord, he just ignored us. I just want my children to feel safe in their home. It shouldn’t be this difficult to get our repairs done.”
The damp and mould in Aminah’s flat is so bad she’s “developed asthma and serious lung problems”. She said: “I’ve also tripped over in the bathroom because the floor gets completely covered with water from the leaks. Even my carer does not want to come round to the flat anymore because the damp and the leaks are so dangerous.”
She added: “I’ve complained to the agency so many times but they just refuse to deal with the problems. When the council came round to look at the problems, all I was told was to wipe off the mould.”
Black Mould On The Exterior Wall. Brent Council says it will 'chase rogue landlords all the way to the courts'. Image Credit: London Renters Union
More than 10,000 privately rented homes in Brent have at least one ‘category 1’ health hazard (18 per cent), according to estimates by Brent Council. It has proposed implementing a property licensing scheme to tackle the issue, which, if approved, would require homes rented to single families, or two sharers, to require a licence to be rented legally.
However, the LRU says Brent Council “has a responsibility to identify and deal with dangerous housing” in the borough and the selective landlord licensing scheme plans “do not go far enough in tackling the scale of the problem”.
LRU organiser, Jacob Wills, said: “Nobody should have to pay for a home that makes them sick. But thousands of people across Brent live in housing that presents a serious risk to their health.[…] As long as councils fail to take swift and robust enforcement action, it will be more profitable for landlords to let out dangerous accommodation than to properly maintain their properties.”
Damp And Mould On The Ceiling. London Renters Union describes an 'epidemic of unsafe housing' in the borough. Image Credit: London Renters Union
He added: “The council urgently needs a credible plan to deal with the 10,000 unsafe homes across Brent. We are calling on the council to invest in housing safety and agree to a concrete timeline to ensure no one faces another winter of damp and mould.”
Brent has the second highest level of poverty of any London borough, but rents have continued to rise. The median monthly cost is now up to £1,400, around 57 per cent of residents’ incomes. Last year, Brent also had the highest rate of eviction of any local authority in England and Wales, according to data from the Ministry of Justice.
A spokesperson for Brent council said: “A decent standard of living is at the heart of Brent’s housing strategy across all sectors – the private rented sector, new build properties and existing council homes.
Damp Caused Mould On Tea Bags. More than 10,000 privately rented homes in Brent have at least one ‘category 1’ health hazard. Image Credit: London Renters Union
“We investigate all reports of damp and mould made to us, and will chase rogue landlords all the way to the courts. Over the past five and a half years, Brent has inspected 8,753 properties, resulting in 5,995 seeing an improvement in condition as a consequence. We urge all private rental tenants with damp and mould issues to report the matter to their landlord and if the landlord fails to respond, please get in touch with us.”
They added: “We currently have 4,893 licenced HMOs and have licenced more HMOs than any other council in London. To date this year, we have carried out in the region of 50 unannounced inspections. Landlords renting out homes in Dollis Hill, Harlesden & Kensal Green and Willesden Green, will legally be required to have a licence from August 1 this year as part of our plan to improve living standards for tenants in Brent.”
Sathy Property Services were approached for comment but did not respond ahead of publication.
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