Tag Archives: charity
Charity claims rogue landlords are responsible for 740,000 unsafe homes in England
Rogue landlords in England are raking in £5.6 billion a year for 740,000 unsafe rented homes that fail to meet legal standards, a new study has found. These privately rented homes present a severe threat to tenants' health, according to the report from the Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) with a host of dangers such as severe damp, rat infestations and the risk of explosions. Overall the study reports that 16% of privately rented homes are physically unsafe, far higher than the 6% in the social rented market, some 8% of privately rented homes have serious damp, 10% pose a risk of a dangerous fall and 6% are excessively cold. ‘Rogue landlords are putting profits before safety. With a growing private rental sector, increasing numbers of people are falling prey to landlords who fail to meet decent standards,’ said Gillian Guy, CAB chief executive. ‘The Government has rightly said it wants to tackle the country’s housing crisis and it must make targeting dodgy landlords, giving tenants better rights and driving up standards a major part of that effort,’ she added. With the cost of buying property rising steeply in many parts of the country, couples with children are now the most common household type in the private rental market and CAB says private renters are woefully under protected and have to navigate through numerous pieces of complex legislation to seek legal redress from landlords. It says that taking court action against a landlord can be long, complicated and expensive. This is compounded by the fact many complaints have to be made to local authorities, which often do not have the capacity to act quickly. The charity recommends that tenants should be entitled to rent refunds where properties are dangerous or not fit to live in and is calling for a national landlord register to be set up as this could help ensure landlords operating illegally cannot move to different areas to avoid legal action. It also says that councils should also set up local licensing to tackle specific issues in their private rental markets as this could help to ensure landlords are providing the quality of housing and service the area needs and ensure tenants know what they can expect from a good landlord. However, Richard Lambert, chief executive officer at the National Landlords Association, criticised the report as unfair to the vast majority of landlords. ‘We recognise that bad practice exists in private housing, that it can have a devastating effect on those it affects, and that it needs to be stamped out. But this report uses loose definitions to compound a perception that private housing is insecure and unsuitable across the board, and it ignores the weight of evidence to the contrary,’ he said. ‘The English Housing Survey finds that the average tenancy now lasts just shy of four years, and that only 7% of tenancies are ended by landlords. Our own research shows that 86% of families consider their properties as their home… Continue reading
Call for lettings agent fees to be banned in England
Letting agents’ fees in England should be banned to protect tenants in the private residential rental sector, a hard hitting new report has urged. According to new evidence uncovered by a charity, Citizens Advice, tenants are frequently ripped-off by fees often hidden by letting agents to the tune of £337 on average. These charges come on top of advertised rent prices and deposits and in some cases can force people into debt, the report says, adding that letting agents have refused to adopt measures that were supposed to bring transparency and competition to the market. Most agents charge for checking references, but costs range from as little as £6 to £300, according to the study. Renters can also be hit by charges ranging from between £15 to £300 for simply renewing their tenancies. Some agents charged £300 for credit checks that are widely available for £25. Even when moving out of a property, almost half of the 353 agencies polled by Citizens Advice said they charge an average ‘check out’ fee of £76. Despite an Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) requirement introduced in 2013 that agents should give clear information about fees, this study found that only a third provided full written details. The requirement will become law later this year which will mean agents have to publish fees on their websites and in their offices. But Citizens Advice is concerned this will have little impact. The report says people face a lot of pressures when looking for a property and the main priorities amongst tenants is location and the price of rent. Fees often do not get disclosed until later in the process and only 25% of tenants told this study that they took fees into account when leasing a property. The charity says it does not call for a fees ban ‘lightly’, but said alternative measures have not worked. It adds that if charges are to be made, they should fall on landlords as they are in a better position to shop around and pick the best agency. A fees ban was introduced in Scotland in 2012 and there is no clear evidence to suggest it has led to an increase in rental prices, the report adds. Almost 90% of renters told the report that the charges caused them problems. A fifth said they went overdrawn on their bank accounts as a result and 42% had to borrow from friends and family. ‘Letting agents hold all the cards meaning tenants are open to abuse. Renters are regularly stung by arbitrary fees which can range from modest amounts to hundreds of pounds,’ said Gillian Guy, chief executive of Citizens Advice. ‘Our research confirms renters don’t shop around for letting agents, they shop around for properties so the idea that transparent fees will solve these problems is misguided. Landlords can hold agencies to account so it is right that they should shoulder the responsibility of fees. That would end once and for all the situation in which letting… Continue reading
Firms show a big heart to clothe needy kids
Firms show a big heart to clothe needy kids Staff Reporter (news@khaleejtimes.com) / 16 July 2013 Another Dh4 million has been pledged to the rapidly growing pool of funds for a campaign to clothe one million needy children around the globe, launched by His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. Just four days after last Thursday’s campaign launch, there is already Dh12 million in donations from corporate sponsors alone, with Emirates NBD bank and the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa) the latest to jump on board, with Dh2 million and Dh1 million respectively. The General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Endowments joined the campaign with its Chairman Hamdan Mussalam Al Mazrouei handing a cheque of Dh1 million to RCA Secretary-General Dr Mohammed Ateeq Al Falahi. So far the total donations are above Dh16 million. The other big donations have come from a Dh3 million pledge each from both the country’s major telecommunications companies du and etisalat, while Damac chairman Hussain Al Sajwani has donated Dh2 million, and Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority a further Dh1 million. It is not yet clear how much has been donated by private citizens, who can send text codes through etisalat and du to make a contribution. The Red Crescent Authority, which distributed the aid on behalf of Shaikh Mohammed, yesterday distributed the aid to 100,000 Yemeni children. Children in Yemen have joined those in Bosnia and Syrian refugees in Jordan, as some of the first to receive a new outfit at a cost of Dh40 — meaning the whole project must raise Dh40 million. So far enough has been raised to clothe 384,245 children. Chairman of both Emirates Group and Dubai Aviation Authority Shaikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum said the company was grateful to Shaikh Mohammed for “giving us the opportunity to support such a noble cause that truly reflects the humanitarian spirit of the UAE. This contribution allows us all to participate in giving to the most needy in the world and to help children who are in need of our support”. “I would like to join in calling all the people in the UAE to take advantage of this philanthropic act and to give to these deserving children in need.” The donation coincided with the bank’s celebrations of “50 years of giving back to the broader community”, he said. Meanwhile, Dewa chief executive Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer said Shaikh Mohammed had made good and noble deeds in the field of humanitarian aid, both nationally and internationally, through various charity organisations and initiatives, including the Mohammed Bin Rashid Humanitarian and Charity Establishment, Dubai Cares, Noor Dubai and others. “His Highness’ efforts aim to help the poor, the sick, widows, orphans, the needy, the distressed and afflicted people either in the UAE or all over the world,” he said. Al Tayer said the charity reflected the country’s leaders’ “relentless pursuit” to help the poor and needy — traits which are deep-rooted in Emirati society. “These initiatives are part of human development in our society and are considered civilised characteristics of societies that are keen to consolidate social solidarity and support giving to the needy, regardless of their race, religion or language.” Dewa has placed donation boxes inside its head office and all other branches as part of an internal campaign to collect donations from employees and customers, the authority said in a media statement on Monday. Dewa has also sent e-mails to encourage donations from employees. Continue reading
