Government-commissioned research last year concluded that such developments can offer renters “a poor residential experience”, concluding: “Permitted development conversions do seem to create worse quality residential environments than planning permission conversions in relation to a number of factors widely linked to the health, wellbeing and quality of life of future occupiers.”
Although laws such as the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, the Housing Act 1988 and the Homes (fitness for human habitation) Act 2018 exist to ensure tenants are not forced to endure poor conditions in rented properties, a parliamentary report recently highlighted “inadequate enforcement” of these laws by Local Authorities.
Official figures showed that in the last period for which figures are available:
· 18% of councils did not serve a single Improvement Notice against a landlord.
· 67% of councils did not commence a single prosecution against a landlord.
· 89% of councils reported they had not enforced any civil penalties against a landlord.
Ajay Jagota, founder of online claims management firm Veriwise, commented: “Allowing faster change of use from retail and office space to housing is something I have supported for a long time. It’s a policy that delivers much-needed housing without the need to build on green spaces while also driving the footfall in town centres which will boost their shopping and leisure offer.
“But not everyone wins. The research shows permitted development can open the door to poor quality rented housing, as unscrupulous landlords scoop up poor quality buildings on the cheap and convert them into poorer quality homes. This is likely to lead to even more rented properties in need of repairs – and all too often not getting them.
“One in five rented homes already fail to meet minimum standards. My concern is that without adequate protection these changes risk creating an avalanche of unacceptable housing. But while they are plenty of laws protecting renters, councils seem unwilling or unable to enforce them.
“There are already renters up and down the country enduring a landlord not doing repairs, and wondering when their landlord will fix their leaky roof, electricity or heating and even fearing revenge evictions for reporting a repair. And without appropriate support from their local authorities, their predicament is never going to improve. Veriwise was created to give vulnerable renters some badly needed back-up”.
