Thursday, 3 May 2012

National Taskforce to End the Problem of 'Beds in Sheds'

A new national taskforce will be set up to tackle the issue of "beds in sheds" by taking action against criminal landlords and removing illegal immigrants. Housing Minister Grant Shapps and Immigration Minister Damian Green will hold the first in a series of cross-Whitehall summits with representatives from the police, the UK Border Agency and local government.  The meetings will find ways to close down thousands of sheds and outbuildings being rented out illegally to migrants, including some with no right to be in the UK. These 'tenants' are being exploited by ruthless landlords who charge them extortionate rents to live in cramped conditions.  These modern day shanty towns, often visible on websites such as Google Earth, can be plagued with rats and cockroaches - and are potential death traps with dodgy wiring and poor sanitation.  Some foreign 'tenants' wish to return home but, after destroying their passports to avoid removal, find it difficult to do so quickly.  Read more on the CLG website.

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