'Slum landlord left me in freezing conservatory'

Stuart Daniels said a former landlord complained about the rise in electricity when he bought a heater for his "freezing" conservatory room

Stuart Daniels has experienced bouts of homelessness for roughly two decades, which has seen him forced to stay at properties which he likens to "slums".

And while he is now happy at a hostel in Woking, Surrey, the bleak periods spent in poorly-maintained shared houses, known as houses in multiple occupation (HMO), are still fresh in his memory.

"I lived in a room in Woking that was a wooden conservatory with single-pane windows, it was classed as a room - it was freezing, a slum," he said.

But as Woking Borough Council announces plans to tighten rules around smaller HMOs, Stuart is hopeful that others will not have to go through the same experiences as he did.

He said of the conservatory room: "When I asked the landlord if I could have a heater he said no. I got a heater myself and he complained about the amount of electricity it was using.

"We only saw the landlord at payment of rent time, but any time you asked for anything he was non-existent.

"Mentally it wasn't good, because no matter what you do, nothing was getting listened to."

'The more checks the better'

Larger HMOs in Woking, with five or more occupants, are already subject to mandatory licensing, but concerns have been raised around poor conditions at smaller shared homes.

To tackle the problem, the council will soon require landlords of properties with three or more people from two or more households to obtain a licence.

Councillor Liam Lyons, portfolio holder for regulation, said the new licences would ensure fairness, safety and accountability in the private rental sector.

"Everyone deserves a decent place to live, and by extending licensing to smaller shared homes, we're raising standards and protecting tenants," he said.

"We know many landlords already provide good quality accommodation, and this scheme will help ensure consistency across the board. It's also about supporting landlords with the tools and guidance they need to succeed."

The scheme is set to launch on 5 January next year - but will it make a difference to renters?

"The more checks the better," Stuart said. "Landlords are charging as much as they want and doing as little as they like."