As I write this, I am preparing to go to court in 6 days, to fight against eviction, for rent arrears. An eviction hearing that should never be allowed to take place, because my home of almost 27 years has never been habitable Since 2016, when I initiated ‘legal’ action for ongoing disrepair, I have experienced ‘landlord harassment’ and now, attempted ‘retaliatory eviction’.

My landlord, NETWORK HOMES LIMITED, (now known as SNG), that claims to provide ‘good quality’ homes, has provided my family with one of the worst homes, ever rented – toxic black mould, dry rot, no fencing and unsecure external doors, inadequate or no heating, defective windows that cannot open, poor ventilation, no downstairs lighting for nearly a year, no access to a WC for 2 weeks and a vermin infestation due to structural dilapidation is not an exhaustive list.  

Despite informing HARROW COUNCIL's Environmental Health Dept in 1998 about the terrible damp and mouldy conditions, they have not made any attempt to enforce remedial works. My MP - Bob Blackman who incidentally, voted out the ‘Decent Homes Bill’ when it was first read in Parliament, has done nothing to help us, and writing to the Housing Ombudsman was also a waste of time.

The end result, for my family being subjected to living in these conditions – frequent headaches, anxiety, panic attacks, depression, severe visual impairment, constant sinus infections and serious breathing difficulties. It is imperative to ensure healthy living environments for all, as the there are according to the government, ever increasing risks of exposure to viruses and living with mould is likely to compromise our immune system.

As the law currently stands, tenants are obligated to pay full rent regardless, even if their landlord is in breach of their statutory obligations! NO ONE, should be liable to pay rent for any accommodation that compromises their health and/or safety.

HARROW COUNCIL boasts on social media about their successful litigations against “rogue” private landlords, so why have they let NETWORK HOMES LIMITED get away with serious neglect of my home for 27 yrs? They have both failed to ensure provision of a home that is ‘fit for human habitation’? HARROW COUNCIL also unlawfully stopped Housing Benefit payments that I was entitled to due my illnesses and disabilities caused by my poor housing conditions! This is the only reason why I'm in 'rent arrears'! With the soaring interest rates, buying property is not a realistic option for most, so renting is the only real option for many people. I believe it’s time to put real protection in place for tenants to ensure that our rights are no longer violated by landlords, especially, Councils and Housing Associations that put profits before people. A ‘Tenant Health and Safety Act’ should be put on the statute books to protect tenants from eviction if landlords are in breach of their obligations to provide a safe and healthy home. A simple, non complicated, no nonsense act that will simply protect tenants from getting a raw deal.

A few years ago, Raga Woods, who founded Gingerbread, said my petition would be a great way to help many people in my situation to force real change for the benefit of renters. I hope she was right....Sadly, the real change that we must demand, is far too late for Awaab Ishak, who died of an acute respiratory condition caused by exposure to mould in 2020.  The failings that were found by the inquest, are still the norm for many like myself. NETWORK HOMES LIMITED's surveyors have claimed that remedial works have been done to eliminate the damp and mould and the court accepted this false information even after evidence to the contrary had been presented. I am still living with damp and mould!

 We also need an independent body, that is NOT paid by council's or housing associations, that will investigate and inspect defective properties.

For far too long, the law has been weighted in favour of landlords – where is the equity?  “NO REPAIRS, NO RENT” should be the rule, and the law! This rule should, of course, only be applicable to landlords that are persistent, unscrupulous offenders. 

Please sign and share this petition to protect all renters.