Ministers urged to protect tenants from “revenge eviction”

The research found that almost a quarter of a million households, who had issues and chose not to complain, said their main worry was their landlord raising their rent or ending the tenancy.

More than 40 percent (43) of Citizens Advice staff said people “worrying about the consequences of complaining” was the biggest issue for tenants seeking redress for their problem.

The charity said repairs and maintenance is the most common issue that private tenants needed help with.

More than 13,000 issues about problems such as mould, electrical faults and pest infestation were dealt with by Citizens Advice staff in 2017.

The research found that nearly half of renters did not think their landlord or agent had a complaints process.

It also found 13 percent of tenants who experienced a problem didn’t complain because they were unable to contact their landlord or didn’t know how to.

The charity is now calling on the government to use the planned introduction of an ombudsman for private landlords to further protect tenants from “revenge eviction”.

A consultation into the plan, which also looks into naming and shaming rogue landlords, ended on April 16 this year - a final report is expected to be published in the near future.

Last year Citizens Advice recommended all private landlords be required to join a dispute resolution scheme after finding 41 percent of tenants waited longer than is reasonable for repairs to be carried out.

As a result, one third of people gave up on asserting their right to repair, 13 percent paid out of their own pocket and seven percent relocated.

The charity said any redress scheme for private renters should be simple to use, with a single, recognisable portal through which tenants can register complaints.

It said there should be enforcement powers to punish rogue landlords and mandatory membership so all renters are protected and landlords who “let-and-forget” are included.

Citizens Advice also said landlords who receive the most complaints should pay more towards the running of an ombudsman, keeping the costs low for the majority.

Gillian Guy, chief executive of Citizens Advice, said: “People who rent shabby or unsafe homes have few options when landlords let them down. Resolving disputes can be risky, costly and complicated.

“We welcome the government’s proposal to extend redress to all private renters, bringing it into line with other consumer markets. However, for any scheme to be successful it must be simple, free and ensure renters are protected from losing their homes simply for raising a complaint.”