Private landlords need information and education to improve standards for renters

Many private landlords lack the knowledge, skills and support needed to provide decent homes for renters, a new study has found. The UK Collaborative Centre for Housing Evidence (CaCHE) study, by Dr Jennifer Harris and Professor Alex Marsh at the University of Bristol, is based on a survey carried out with over 1000 landlords and on 68 in-depth interviews with landlords, letting agents and experts. The study covered the whole of the UK. It adds to the limited body of research that has been carried out from the perspective of landlords. The study looked at landlords' behaviours and practices which affect tenants' ability to make a home in the sector. These include making sure the property is in a good state of repair, selecting tenants, and complying with relevant laws and regulation. Most owners do not pursue landlordism as a professional business and manage a small number of properties alongside their normal day jobs.