The number of private renters with children living in damp homes has nearly doubled since the pandemic began, according to BBC analysis of the English Housing Survey. The proportion has increased from 1 in 14 households before Covid-19 to 1 in 7 in the 2022-2023 period. Across all types of tenure, it is estimated that 1.5 million children were living in homes that failed decency standards in that period. However, the vast majority of renters are satisfied with their accommodation, according to the National Residential Landlords Association.
One charity said it had received reports about poor housing since the pandemic, with many private renters reluctant to complain for fear of eviction. Housing minister Matthew Pennycook called the number of children in substandard housing “utterly shocking” and said that the government was taking action to raise standards and protect tenants from exploitation. The government will introduce a Renters’ Rights Bill, which will abolish “no-fault” evictions via Section 21 and extend Awaab’s Law to encourage landlords to fix hazards.
The latest English Housing Survey found that there were around 208,000 households with children living in damp private accommodation during the 2022-2023 period, compared to just over 122,000 in the pre-pandemic period of 2019-20. Households with children who are privately renting are more likely to live in housing with a damp problem than those without, while dampness is more common in the private sector compared to owner-occupied homes, or those provided by local authorities or housing associations. However, the government-run survey only captures damp significant enough to feature in health and safety reports, so minor issues are not included.
The charity the People’s Health Trust, which champions health equity, said that while some children were becoming acutely ill owing to poor housing conditions, others were experiencing chronic health issues. Campaigners for improved standards have said rising rents have led to problems for those on the lowest incomes, while plans to abolish Section 21 “no-fault” evictions were urgently needed for better housing standards. Housing charity Shelter is calling on the government to build more homes for affordable rent and introduce, and enforce, rental sector standards
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