Concern over ‘poor quality’ private rented sector

Newport: Recently, there’s been a lot of chatter about the state of private rentals in Wales. People are really worried about the quality of homes out there. Labour MS John Griffiths has been leading the charge, pushing for better standards in the private rented sector.

He pointed out that many homes are damp and in disrepair, which is a big deal. Griffiths mentioned that living in such conditions can seriously affect people’s health and well-being. He’s calling for the Welsh Government to step up and tackle these issues head-on.

During a recent debate, Griffiths suggested that the Welsh housing quality standard should apply to private rentals too. It just doesn’t make sense that some tenants get stuck with lower quality homes. He’s all for making sure everyone has a decent place to live.

But it’s not all smooth sailing. Griffiths acknowledged that extending these standards to private rentals is a tough nut to crack. The Welsh Government hasn’t committed to any immediate actions yet, which is a bit disappointing for those looking for change.

He also talked about the idea of a “property MOT” to ensure homes are fit for living. While some letting agents are on board, there’s still a lot of uncertainty about how effective this will be.

Another hot topic was the issue of no-fault evictions. Even though Scotland banned them back in 2017, they’re still happening in Wales. Conservative MS Peter Fox pointed out that rental prices have shot up by nearly 7% recently, which is higher than in England and Scotland.

Fox criticized the Labour government for not building enough homes, leading to fierce competition among tenants. He even claimed that anti-landlord policies are driving landlords out of the market.

Plaid Cymru’s Siân Gwenllian stressed the need for quick action, warning that Wales could fall behind England with new renters’ rights coming into play.

On a different note, Labour’s Carolyn Thomas raised concerns about no-pet policies in rentals. A survey showed that only a tiny fraction of rented homes in Wales allow pets. This has led to some people becoming homeless because they refuse to give up their furry friends.

Housing Secretary Jayne Bryant mentioned that the government is looking into protections for tenants with pets, similar to what’s being proposed in England. She also highlighted that many of the committee’s recommendations are already covered in the Welsh Government’s housing white paper.

So, it looks like there’s a lot to unpack here, and many people are hoping for some real changes soon.