Revenge is sweet What agents and landlords need to kn...

Recent figures reveal a growing number of private renters are struggling to get basic repairs and maintenance work carried out by their landlords - and some are even facing so-called revenge evictions' for pointing out the problems. So what exactly is going on and how can the industry make sure it operates in a fair and transparent manner

In November 2014, Citizens Advice revealed one in three private rented properties in England do not meet the Government's decent home minimum standard. The charity reported a 14 per cent increase in people asking for help with repairs and maintenance problems between July and September 2014, compared to the same period for the previous year.

Citizens Advice identified a number of cases where renters who had complained about repairs, damage, damp and other issues found themselves facing eviction for no apparent reason. In fact, the charity's Advice Trends report revealed a 15 per cent increase in the number of cases where people were harassed or illegally evicted by landlords, with young people more likely to face difficulties with private landlords than their older counterparts.

Section 21 of the Housing Act 1988, enables landlords to apply for a court order requiring tenants to vacate, without providing specific reasons. And although the majority of landlords will look after their properties and tenants, some campaigners worry that rogue landlords may take advantage of the law to evict tenants unfairly.

The topic has been widely debated over recent months following MP Sarah Teather's Tenancies (Reform) Bill, but the discussions have been far from conclusive. The All Party Parliamentary Group for the Private Rented Sector published a report, Tackling Retaliatory Evictions, in December which explored issues around what constitutes retaliatory eviction, how extensive the problem is, whether further legislation is needed and what impact it would have on tenants and landlords.

The report asserted it was impossible to obtain objective data, as all parties producing such information were likely to have vested interests, and the vast array of statistical information already in the public domain was bewildering. It argued that without adequate data, it would be impossible to introduce new, effective legislation and called for independent research to be carried out.

It's a move industry bodies will no doubt await with interest. The National Landlords Association, for example, agrees that tenants should be able to ask their landlords to fix problems around the property without fear of eviction but doesn't believe further regulation is the right way to go about it. In November 2014, it stated it had always been concerned that there is not the weight of evidence to justify the need for legislationthe Tenancies (Reforms) Bill is a response more to the fear of [retaliatory eviction] happening than widespread experience .

Further investigation and debate around the matter will be carried out early this year. In the meantime, reputable landlords and agents need to make sure they clearly outline in their contracts how they go about repairs and maintenance in their properties and keep a record of what problems tenants have reported and how they have been resolved.

What do you think about revenge evictions Are they a real issue the industry needs to address or are some reports pointing out the severity of the problem overinflated

*Rachel Haymes is Head of Conveyancing at property and business law firm Ratio Law