He also revealed evidence of illegal discrimination, with one in four owners estimated to have refused to give to non-British passport holders. The findings of the Public Accounts Committee come as tenants’ finances come under record pressure, with higher rents and increases in energy bills combined to put more pressure on many households. In January, the real estate website Rightmove reported that private rents in Britain were growing at the fastest rate ever, with the average ad rent outside London being almost 10% higher than last year. In its report, the committee said it was “very difficult for tenants to exercise their legal right to a safe and secure home” and that local authorities – limited by a lack of support from the Ministry of Upgrading, Housing and Communities – did not have the ability to provide them with adequate protection. An estimated 11 million people rent privately in England and the sector has doubled in size in the last two decades. The years of rising house prices have resulted in many people wanting to buy their own home having to stay in rental accommodation for years, in some cases with no prospect of being able to afford their own place in the area where they live. Subscribe to the daily Business Today email or follow the Guardian Business on Twitter at @BusinessDesk The commission’s report said it was estimated that 13% (589,000) of private rental homes in England had at least one “category 1” risk – a serious health and safety hazard that homeowners are legally required to deal with. These hazards can range from dampness and mold or the risk of accidents – for example, from falls or falls, faulty wiring or collapsing parts of the building – to smoke alarms or carbon monoxide detectors that were missing or not working. Compliance with minimum legal standards was inconsistent across the UK, with the proportion of properties at risk one ranging from 9% in London to 21% in Yorkshire and Humber. The result, lawmakers said, was “a ‘postal code lottery’ for the safety of tenants.” At the same time, there was also evidence of illegal discrimination in the sector, with an estimated 25% of landlords reluctant to grant passports to non-British passport holders and 52% reluctant to grant them to tenants receiving housing allowance. However, only 10 landlords and rental agents have been banned by local authorities since 2016, with some councils inspecting only 0.1% of their privately owned rental property. The report said the department recognized the challenges in the sector and had committed itself to proposing reforms in a White Paper expected later this year. “The precarious conditions, overcrowding, harassment, discrimination and awkward evictions are still a huge issue in the private rental sector,” said Meg Hillier, chair of the committee.
