A mother of seven, identified only as Leanne, has spoken out about being forced to relocate 120 miles from her lifelong home in London to a damp and mould-ridden property in Wolverhampton, following a no-fault eviction. The property, which she shares with two of her grown-up children, has become a significant safety concern, she said, with mould and damp posing serious health risks.
A Disruptive Move and a Troubled Property
Leanne, whose name has been changed for privacy, explained that after being evicted from her London home, her local council could only offer accommodation in Wolverhampton, a move that was both emotionally and practically challenging. "I had lived in London all my life but was forced out of my home by my landlord, despite having seven children," she said. "The only place my local council could find for me to live was 120 miles away in Wolverhampton. It was very upsetting at the time and we had to leave our dogs behind at the Battersea Dogs Home."
Since moving in, the family has been dealing with the visible effects of mould, which has spread throughout the house. Leanne described the property as a "health trap, a death trap," expressing fears that the house could collapse or even explode, as the back doors do not open, making escape difficult in an emergency. She has been fighting for repairs for years, with the landlord and management company seemingly passing responsibility back and forth.
Empowerment Through Renters' Rights Training
Leanne's situation took a positive turn when she attended a free training course on the new Renters' Rights Act, organized by Access to Business and funded by the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) through Mayor Richard Parker's Renters' Rights Campaign Fund. The training gave her the knowledge and confidence to assert her rights as a tenant. "To learn about the new Renters' Rights Act was brilliant. Finally, we have a voice, we've got the law with us now. We've got rights now and I don't feel scared anymore," she said.
The training has already had a tangible impact: her landlord has now personally stepped in to begin work tackling the damp and mould. Leanne, who works part-time, added, "Before I was worried how making a complaint was going to affect me. I hope my voice can help others. We need to stand up and make our voices heard."
Mayor's Commitment to Improve Rental Standards
Mayor Richard Parker has pledged to use the new Act to improve the standard of the region's 225,000 privately rented homes, a quarter of which currently fail to meet minimum decency standards due to issues like damp, mould, and cold. Through the Renters' Rights Campaign Fund, the WMCA has awarded microgrants of up to £2,500 to 15 community groups and organisations, including the Citizens Advice Bureau, to deliver free training sessions across the region.
"No one should have to live in a damp, unhealthy property, and no one should have to live in fear of losing their home through no fault of their own," the Mayor said. "I'm committed to using these new laws to give tenants more security and stability and to drive up the standard of privately rented accommodation across our region. I will also use the Renters Rights Act to crackdown on those rogue landlords who are blighting lives. Everyone deserves a safe, decent home, and that starts with knowing your rights as a tenant."
Key Changes Under the Renters' Rights Act
The Renters' Rights Act, which came into force in May this year, introduces sweeping changes to the private rental sector. Among its key provisions are a ban on Section 21 'no-fault' evictions, the end of fixed-term tenancy contracts, and a ban on rental bidding. It also limits rent increases to once per year and requires landlords to consider requests to keep pets.
Local councils are now responsible for enforcing these laws, backed by stronger powers and support from the Mayor and WMCA. Enforcement measures include fines of up to £7,000, rising to £40,000 for repeated or serious breaches. Tenants or local authorities can also seek rent repayment orders, compelling landlords to repay rent for certain offences.
Impact on Tenants Like Leanne
For Leanne, the training has been transformative. "How many times have we heard we're going to get help? How many times, when we've done our place up the landlords want to evict us," she said through tears. "As time went on after moving here, we started to see the true effects of mould coming through. It needs repairing and I've been fighting this for years."
She also highlighted the unfairness of paying rent for an uninhabitable home: "My landlord is trying to help me out. He's paying the management to do the work but the management isn't doing the work and passing the buck on to the landlord. I'm paying my rent and I don't think it's fair."
A spokesperson for the WMCA added: "Local councils are legally responsible for overseeing the new laws and are being backed with stronger enforcement powers and support from the Mayor and WMCA. This includes tougher fines of up to £7,000, rising to £40,000 for repeated breaches of the rules or for serious offences. Tenants or local authorities are also able to seek rent repayment orders, forcing landlords to pay back rent for offences."
Private renters can find out more about the Renters' Rights Act and how to get action taken at the WMCA website.
