An increasing percentage of people are turning to Citizens Advice for help with rental properties that are not being adequately maintained or suffer from damp and mould, its latest housing report has shown.
The report compares data from 2022/23 with the 18 months leading up to 2021, with the charity arguing it supports the need for minimum standards for rental housing to protect tenants’ health, welfare and safety.
More recent information not in the report indicates a similar number of people were experiencing these problems in 2024 as well, it says.
The report was sent to relevant States committees and the Guernsey Landlords Association late last year, but has now been released publicly after the recent States decision to pass new legislation for minimum living standards which has attracted some criticism because of how far reaching some fear it is.
“The current housing concern in Guernsey is focussed on the lack of availability and the high cost of rental properties in Guernsey,” the report states.
“This report provides evidence that tenants continue to experience poor standards of accommodation and supports the need for legislation for minimum standards for rental housing to protect tenants’ health, welfare and safety.
“The shortage of alternative affordable properties is a further difficulty for tenants who wish to leave unsatisfactory accommodation or who must move out while major repairs are made.”
54% of clients reported problems with inadequate maintenance and repairs in the period before 2024, compared to 34% before that.
“It is beyond the scope of this report to suggest possible reasons, but the increased cost of labour and materials and shortage of building workers may be contributing factors.”
Damp and mould reports climbed proportionately from 35 to 43%.
“This may reflect greater public awareness of the health issues arising from exposure to mould.
“Damp problems can be structural or arise from condensation and responsibility for managing damp and mould can be a cause of dispute between landlord and tenant. In some cases, tenants face difficult choices between adequate ventilation and adequate heating to manage condensation.”
76 individuals contacted Citizens Advice Guernsey during 2022 and 2023 about problems with the condition of their private rented property, many reporting more than one issue and some needing to make repeated contact as their situation developed.
72 enquiries were from clients, four from landlords.
41 clients (54%) mentioned inadequate maintenance and repairs.
“Typically, a tenant would advise their landlord or agent of a maintenance issue, but the landlord failed to take any action or delayed repairs, allowing the problem to become much more serious.”
33 clients (43%) reported problems with damp and mould in their property.
21 clients (28%) experienced water damage.
“In 13 cases the water damage was seen to be caused by poor maintenance of the structure of the property, allowing water ingress through the roof, windows or doors. Five cases were due to plumbing leaks and three were due to storm damage/flooding.”
Vermin (mice and/or rats) were an issue for eight clients (10%).
In 12 cases the property had become uninhabitable
“There were two clients who recognised unacceptable conditions before occupation of the property but moved in anyway. Both were homeless, one took on the property for no rent and agreed to renovate, the other had paid one month’s rent in advance without seeing the property.”