Landlords who let out unsafe accommodation are being targeted by the government’s Housing Secretary, Sajid Javid.

A new system to make it easier for tenants to complain and have action taken against rogue landlords is being proposed. An eight-week consultation has started asking for views on a new and streamlined process to resolve disputes more quickly and improve access to compensation.

Options being considered include:

• introducing a single housing ombudsman to cover the whole of the housing market
• homes builders required to join an ombudsman scheme
• naming and shaming of poor practice to help tackle the worst abuses

Unlike other areas, such as financial services that have a single and accountable ombudsman, housing has four different complaints bodies.

In the private rented sector, there is currently no obligation for landlords to register with a complaints system and this can often leave those who do not use a property agent without any option for redress.

The proposals follow-on from new regulations to be implemented in April that are intended to ensure tenants are not being exploited by unscrupulous landlords who profit from providing overcrowded, squalid and sometimes dangerous homes.

Original source

Gov.UK