Fears Over Rogue Landlords 'Making A Quick Buck' From Most Vulnerable

Landlords have been urged to take more care of their tenants and not just look to “make a quick buck” by letting out substandard properties. In 2017/18 Bradford Council’s Housing Standards Team received 1,827 service requests relating to the poor condition of housing in the district. This was a seven per cent rise on the previous year. And in the first nine months of 2018/19 the service has received 1,590 service requests. Mould, poor heating and fire risks were the most common reason for call-outs, and officers can force landlords or property owners to bring the buildings up to standard. Most of the properties in question were privately rented. Read more on the Bradford Telegraph & Argus website.

https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/17531787.fears-over-rogue-landlords-making-a-quick-buck-from-most-vulnerable/

City in Grip of Housing Benefits 'Explosion'

New figures show that Bradford is in the grip of a low pay crisis – with an explosion in the number of working people surviving on housing benefit. The number of claimants in the city who have jobs has leapt by 73 per cent since the last General Election, according to official statistics. Across the district, there are 28,513 people working, but on housing benefit, after similar leaps in Calderdale (up 56 per cent), Kirklees (58 per cent) and Leeds (89 per cent).  There has been growing criticism of the Government’s insistence that getting people off benefits and into work is, by itself, a route out of poverty.  Read more on the Bradford Argus & Telegraph website.