Landlords told to ‘get a grip’ as almost a quarter of private rented homes do not meet standards

Figures emerge as damning report finds ‘significant’ failings by landlord of two-year-old who died in mouldy flat

Mould in the kitchen after Awaab’s death (Greater Manchester Police)

Ministers are facing demands for urgent action to ensure the nation has homes fit to live in, after shock figures showed that almost a quarter of private rented properties – almost 1 million houses and flats – failed to meet basic standards of decency.

The English Housing Survey found that 14 per cent of homes – a total of 3.4 million – fell short of standards on cold, damp, disrepair, noise or lack of basic amenities. These included 2 million owner-occupied homes (13 per cent) and 380,000 social rentals (10 per cent).

It came as a Rochdale housing association announced its chair and board members will quit following a scathing report on their “unacceptable” response to the death of a two-year-old boy from respiratory problems caused by mould in the flat where he lived.