Issue - meetings

In April 2014, I and three others rented a property in Millward Court Chatham Kent. This was a three storey property and should have been an HMO licensed property. It was not. When the tenants became concerned about the property Private Sector Housing and Trading Standards were contacted and an inspection was made. Numerous safety issues were raised but because the Landlord had served notice to end the tenancy Medway Council took no action. The property was sold and has been rented out once more, again placing tenants at risk.

I subsequently rented a property in Victoria Road Chatham Kent and despite assurances from the managing agent the property was fully compliant, it was and still is a death trap.

The loft conversion and cellar conversion had been carried out without any regard to building regulations. There was no Part P electrical certificate. The gas installation did not meet regulations and most worrying of all there is no fire protection to the stairs leading to the loft.

The Landlord was aware of the lack of building regulation certification when they purchased the property but rather than make the property safe they immediately let the property to a single mother, two of whose children slept in the loft room. Had there been a fire the consequences would have been tragic.

Rather than remedy the defects in the property the landlord served notice and I now find myself homeless. I applied to Medway Homechoice but there is a delay of some thirteen weeks between submitting an application and it being dealt with so I am prevented from even trying to obtain affordable housing.

When is Medway Council going to ensure properties for rent are safe and compliant? 

“In April 2014, I and three others rented a property in Millward Court Chatham Kent. This was a three storey property and should have been an HMO licensed property. It was not. When the tenants became concerned about the property Private Sector Housing and Trading Standards were contacted and an inspection was made. Numerous safety issues were raised but because the Landlord had served notice to end the tenancy Medway Council took no action. The property was sold and has been rented out once more, again placing tenants at risk.

I subsequently rented a property in Victoria Road Chatham Kent and despite assurances from the managing agent the property was fully compliant, it was and still is a death trap.

The loft conversion and cellar conversion had been carried out without any regard to building regulations. There was no Part P electrical certificate. The gas installation did not meet regulations and most worrying of all there is no fire protection to the stairs leading to the loft.

The Landlord was aware of the lack of building regulation certification when they purchased the property but rather than make the property safe they immediately let the property to a single mother, two of whose children slept in the loft room. Had there been a fire the consequences would have been tragic.

Rather than remedy the defects in the property the landlord served notice and I now find myself homeless. I applied to Medway Homechoice but there is a delay of some thirteen weeks between submitting an application and it being dealt with so I am prevented from even trying to obtain affordable housing.

When is Medway Council going to ensure properties for rent are safe and compliant?”

Councillor Doe thanked Mr Spalding for his question. He stated that whilst it would not be appropriate to discuss the individual circumstances of either tenants or landlords, he had asked the appropriate Council officer to respond directly to Mr Spalding regarding the properties he had mentioned. He confirmed that the Council attached great importance to the issue of standards in the private sector.

He stated that the Private Sector Housing Team dealt with concerns from tenants in relation to the condition of their property. The Council always sought to work with landlords to bring properties up to the correct standards as well as undertaking enforcement action for those that were non-compliant. 

He stated that the Council provided both tenant and landlord accreditation schemes, something which he had actually been very keen to push for. He believed that these were having some success and were helping to raise awareness of standards and responsibilities for both parties, and the Council also provided landlords with advice via the Landlords Forums that took place throughout the year.

He concluded by stating that it was important that tenants with either homelessness or private sector housing concerns contacted the Council so that the appropriate advice could be provided.