'They're scum, just scum'. These words, uttered by an absentee landlord during a recent Radio 4 broadcast about housing, sum up the current crisis for many of the families living in poverty in the UK.
In many of the more deprived wards over 40 per cent of the population live in homes rented from private landlords. Some of those owners work alongside council housing departments to access improvement grants and work towards reducing multi-occupancy accommodation. They link with social services and other agencies such as Home Start to ensure that rent bonds can be agreed and that tenants can be supported and protected. The most vulnerable families - those with learning difficulties, poor credit histories, drug and alcohol dependency, or escapees from domestic violence - are more likely to become entrapped with landlords who are less tolerant of their needs.
Register now to continue reading
Thank you for visiting Nursery World and making use of our archive of more than 35,000 expert features, subject guides, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:
What's included
-
Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month
-
Unlimited access to news and opinion
-
Email newsletter providing activity ideas, best practice and breaking news
Already have an account? Sign in here