With continued upward pressure mounting from pandemic-driven moving trends, the UK is still deep in a national housing crisis. Among a string of issues is the significant lack of inventory – there is simply far more demand than there is supply. 

This imbalance is evident in the North West of England, making it even harder for lower-income earners to find an appropriate home. For example, currently, almost twice as many (956) rental properties are available in Merseyside within the £500 – £1,000 pcm price bracket as there are for between £250 – £500 pcm (455). In Southport, the ratio for the same price bands is 44:8 – finding affordable accommodation is certainly a challenge.

When added to issues of rogue landlord behaviours and poor housing standards, the outlook for successfully renting an affordable property that is in a good state of repair becomes even bleaker.

In 2020, a judge ruled that landlords refusing to rent to applicants on benefits was unlawful. Despite this, research has reportedly since found that many Merseyside landlords continued with this discrimination, even specifying in their listings that they would not accept any tenants who receive DSS income. 

Living standards under long-overdue scrutiny

According to the 2019 English Housing Survey, of the approximately 4.4 million households renting a property in the UK from a private landlord, 23% fell short of meeting the Decent Homes Standard. 

While low inventory and rising prices continue to put pressure on an already struggling sector, there is finally something practical being done to ensure that the rental industry is held to higher standards.

The government has recently announced some pivotal regulatory changes aimed at improving conditions for rental occupants. For example, a recent announcement has outlined a new government-based landlord register, in addition to a set of national rental property standards. 

These standards will require any landlords that provide non-compliant rental properties to refit them to ensure that they are ‘safe, warm, and in a good state of repair.’ 

These new government regulations are a great start, yet tenants currently living in substandard conditions still have no accessible avenue for holding landlords accountable without lengthy and costly court battles. The local authorities of Merseyside and beyond simply do not have access to sufficient resources or funding to proactively ensure that properties are compliant. The private rental sector is also regulated in such a way that these government changes are unlikely to put into effect any real change when it comes to the treatment of tenants across the industry. 

New rental review platform leaves nowhere to hide for rogue landlords

Founded by social entrepreneur Neil Nichols and technologist Mark Brown, Treehaus has recently launched the very first national UK database of rental properties and landlord review site. This launch is part of a highly intentioned campaign to hold rogue landlords accountable, champion good landlords, give tenants the voice they deserve, and create better standards across the board by creating a new level of transparency. 

As Treehaus Director Neil Nichols explains, “In no other industry does the customer get treated so badly, with so little recourse when things go wrong. It would be unthinkable for a customer to have a problem with a hotel room and be told to live with it.”

After conducting months of research, Treehaus’ new database accounts for 80-90% of the private and social rental property market in the UK.  Treehaus’ future goals are to assist tenants in matching with good landlords, as ensuring that subpar landlords and properties are no longer able to fly under the radar. This unprecedented level of sector transparency should subsequently, therefore, drive overall standards up. 

Accountability, transparency and fairness for all

Thanks to Treehaus’ revolutionary platform, tenants can now publicly review the condition of their rental properties, as well as the way in which their landlord conducts themselves.

Treehaus aims to receive its first 1 million reviews to create a platform that is effective at scale. Both good and bad reviews will be welcomed to assist tenants in being matched with good landlords and properties, while motivating any that are questionable to improve their conduct and the condition of their rentals. 

If you’re a renter, make sure to get on board, submit your review to www.treehaus.com and join the movement towards a rental revolution in the pursuit of fairness for all.