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| Shelter launches 'Rotten Homes Liverpool' campaign | Shelter launches 'Rotten Homes Liverpool' campaign |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| All eyes will be on Liverpool over the coming month as the city's first elected mayor gets down to business. The city is the biggest outside London to be appointing a directly elected leader at this time, and observers will be keen to track whether and how strong political will can transform England's great regional cities. | All eyes will be on Liverpool over the coming month as the city's first elected mayor gets down to business. The city is the biggest outside London to be appointing a directly elected leader at this time, and observers will be keen to track whether and how strong political will can transform England's great regional cities. |
| For the mayor of Liverpool, improving the city's private rented homes will be one of the most pressing tasks. One in five households in Liverpool rents from a private landlord, but more than 40% of these properties are classified as 'not decent'. In practice, this means a home is hazardous because of faulty gas or electrics, doesn't have modern facilities or heating, or is poorly maintained. These homes may have problems with mould and damp, which can present serious health risks to adults and children alike. | For the mayor of Liverpool, improving the city's private rented homes will be one of the most pressing tasks. One in five households in Liverpool rents from a private landlord, but more than 40% of these properties are classified as 'not decent'. In practice, this means a home is hazardous because of faulty gas or electrics, doesn't have modern facilities or heating, or is poorly maintained. These homes may have problems with mould and damp, which can present serious health risks to adults and children alike. |
| Shelter's research has found that there is a small minority of rogue landlords plaguing our cities by deliberately letting out dangerous properties to vulnerable tenants. But the figures suggest the problem of substandard, poorly maintained or even dangerous properties is much wider, making it difficult for families to avoid. The pressure on the rental market has allowed rogue operators to flourish, and families who find themselves in this position may be threatened with eviction if they complain. The fear of eviction alone can be enough to silence tenants – especially if they know they will struggle to raise a deposit or meet the monthly rent for a different property. | Shelter's research has found that there is a small minority of rogue landlords plaguing our cities by deliberately letting out dangerous properties to vulnerable tenants. But the figures suggest the problem of substandard, poorly maintained or even dangerous properties is much wider, making it difficult for families to avoid. The pressure on the rental market has allowed rogue operators to flourish, and families who find themselves in this position may be threatened with eviction if they complain. The fear of eviction alone can be enough to silence tenants – especially if they know they will struggle to raise a deposit or meet the monthly rent for a different property. |
| The good news is that the mayor can bring strong political leadership to the city's efforts to crack down on rogue landlords letting out rotten homes – and leadership is just what's needed, as our research demonstrates. Over the last three years, Liverpool City Council received over 11,000 complaints, though many more problems will go unreported. The council has already taken some concerted steps towards indentifying and removing hazards from private rented accommodation, and the mayor must drive forward that fight. | The good news is that the mayor can bring strong political leadership to the city's efforts to crack down on rogue landlords letting out rotten homes – and leadership is just what's needed, as our research demonstrates. Over the last three years, Liverpool City Council received over 11,000 complaints, though many more problems will go unreported. The council has already taken some concerted steps towards indentifying and removing hazards from private rented accommodation, and the mayor must drive forward that fight. |
| Shelter has today opened up 'Rotten Homes Liverpool' for three days in Liverpool city centre and inviting mayoral candidates to come down and see some of the problems for themselves. We will be urging candidates to make cleaning up the city's housing a political priority, and to back it up with concrete action to improve homes and bring down the full force of the law on the worst offenders. | Shelter has today opened up 'Rotten Homes Liverpool' for three days in Liverpool city centre and inviting mayoral candidates to come down and see some of the problems for themselves. We will be urging candidates to make cleaning up the city's housing a political priority, and to back it up with concrete action to improve homes and bring down the full force of the law on the worst offenders. |
| The Guardian Northerner will bring you more on this, from the city centre site. Here's a short film from Shelter which introduces the campaign. | The Guardian Northerner will bring you more on this, from the city centre site. Here's a short film from Shelter which introduces the campaign. |
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