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Minister warns landlords must raise living conditions

ROGUE private landlords who provide poor living conditions for students must raise their standards or face being taken to court, a minister will warn today.

Universities Minister Chris Skidmore will hit out at landlords who are “exploiting vulnerable students” and failing to provide “basic standards of living.”

Recently introduced regulations now empower students and other renters to take their landlords to court if they fail to address serious home defects such as mould, damp and safety hazards.

Mr Skidmore will tell students that he has heard “appalling stories” of students living in terrible conditions, which can affect their studies and even their mental health.

He will warn “the time is up” for landlords “making a profit from shoddy accommodation.”

The Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018, which came into force last Wednesday, aims to help drive up rental home standards in the social and private sectors, and allows tenants to hold to account landlords of properties that pose health and safety risks.

A survey by the National Union of Students (NUS) found that 40 per cent of privately renting British students lived with damp and mould on their walls last year.

Issues with vermin or insect infestation were reported by 20 per cent of student renters, 16 per cent reported living in properties with electrical safety hazards and 9 per cent reported gas safety hazards.

More than a third of students (36 per cent) said poor living conditions made them feel anxious or depressed.

Student housing charity Unipol and Universities UK have created codes of practice for landlords to sign up to and help ensure standards are met.

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