Landlords from Hell - C4 dispatches

erolz


Joined: 17/11/2008
Posts: 3456

Message Posted:
26/07/2011 22:24

Just watched this on 4oD



Shocking. Illegality, exploitation of the most vulnerable, indifference from government, local and national. One elderly couple have livied in their house for 42 years, were conned into selling it and renting it back and now risk evicition so the 'landlord' can jack up the rent for a new tennant. 'Landlords' renting sheds in west london to illegal immigrants, plainly, yet the local council has not prosecuted a single person with all the powers they have. Shocking in the UK in 2011.



For those in UK or with VPN and decent internet connection can be seen here for another 8 days.



http://www.channel4.com/programmes/dispatches/4od

mmmmmm



Joined: 19/12/2008
Posts: 8398

Message Posted:
27/07/2011 09:21

Hi ErolZ - just finished watching it ...



I'd like to see a follow up to see what happens when the authorities DO something :(

BeeKeeper


Joined: 29/09/2009
Posts: 137

Message Posted:
27/07/2011 11:58

The bigger question which this programme didn't even attempt to tackle is where the people who live in these awful places should go.



According to the programme, they struggle to find £400 to spend on housing.



How do you provide decent housing in - say - London for £400 a month!

erolz


Joined: 17/11/2008
Posts: 3456

Message Posted:
27/07/2011 12:07

BeeKeeper certainly it would seem the resurgance of this kind of 'slum landlord' is a result of the decline and shortfall of social housing we have seen in the UK, made worse by the state of the economy and increases in the number of illegal immigrants in the UK. One of the shocking realities was that these slum landlords are getting the majority of their rent money from housing benefit clients, whilst providing sub standard accomodation of appaling quality, in breach of countless laws and regulations and intimidating their clients with impunity, again with no regard for law. There is clearly a widespread systematic failure on the part of local councils to meet their legal duties both in terms of hosuing people and in terms of monitoring private sector landlords. As this affects essentialy the weak, vulnerable and poorest in society a blind eye is just turned and in my view it is not good enough in the year 2011 in a country as relatively rich as the UK.