Legislation that has been in place for twenty years has been used to sort out the housing complaints of tenants living in the London Borough of Merton.
The private landlord of eighteen properties, all in the Graveney ward, ignored his tenants’ complaints. Most of the complaints concerned poor repairs. As a result, Merton Council issued several notices to the landlord but these were ignored over a period of months. Finally, the council took out an “Interim Management Order” to seize the properties under the Housing Act 2004, thought to be one of the first uses of the powers.
As a result, the rents paid by the tenants will temporarily be diverted to pay for the repairs. Any remaining money will be returned to the landlord, who remains liable for any mortgage payments. The repairs will be overseen by appointed agents who will manage the properties for twelve months.
Merton Council said it would use the powers on a more regular basis in the future. Last year, the council introduced its Selective Licensing Scheme which requires all privately rented homes in Figges Marsh, Graveney, Longthornton and Pollards Hill to be licensed. The scheme empowers the council to address inadequate property conditions and antisocial behaviour, following consultation with residents, to protect their interests.
The member for Housing and Sustainable Development at Merton Council, Councellor Andrew Judge, said: “Everyone deserves to live in a safe and decent home and the council is committed to improving housing conditions in the private rented sector.
“While many landlords operate within guidelines, there are also others who do not, often taking advantage of some of the most vulnerable members of our community. This leads to issues affecting health and safety, the wider community, as well as the environment.
“This action sends a clear message to landlords: if you do not license your property, or act in such a way that the property cannot be licensed, the council can and will use its powers to take over the running of it.”