How many private renters are there in Hounslow?
In 2015 The Office for National Statistics found 82,500 private renters in Hounslow– that’s more than a quarter of the borough. The current figure is probably higher, considering how much the housing crisis has deepened since then. So there are plenty of private renters to campaign with.
If renting is so bad, why don’t private renters just buy a house?
Because in Hounslow, the average home costs 12.58 times the average annual income
Why can’t they get a council house then?
Because there are currently 3,130 households waiting for a council house in Hounslow, and like all other London boroughs, Hounslow has a major shortage of social housing stock.
Looks like we’re stuck in the private rented sector then. What’s it going to cost?
Monthly median average rents for Hounslow, recorded by the Valuation Office Agency, are below. Remember, these figures don’t include fuel or council tax bills:
Room in a shared house: £563
Studio flat: £800
One bedroom flat: £1,248
Two-bedroom flat: £1,550
Three-bedroom flat: £1,700
House with four or more bedrooms: £2,496
That’s a lot. I guess that means a lot of private renters have to claim housing benefit to stay alive then?
Yes, over 7,000 people in Hounslow claim housing benefit to help cover their private rents.
And does housing benefit cover it?
No. The Local Housing Allowance (LHA) is the maximum amount of housing benefit you can get, regardless of whether you’re a private renter (renting from a private landlord) or a social renter (renting from the council or a housing association). The monthly LHA in Hounslow depends on which part of the borough you live in. To view maps of these different areas, click here. The different rates are:
Inner West London
Shared Accommodation Rate: £479
One Bedroom Rate: £1,053.78
Two Bedrooms Rate: £1,310.10
Three Bedrooms Rate: £1,536
Four Bedrooms Rate: £1,785.42
Outer South West London
Shared Accommodation Rate: £379
One Bedroom Rate: £896
Two Bedrooms Rate: £1,215.93
Three Bedrooms Rate: £1,460.16
Four Bedrooms Rate:£1,807.09
Outer West London
Shared Accommodation Rate:£357.11
One Bedroom Rate:£761.54
Two Bedrooms Rate:£995.15
Three Bedrooms Rate:£1,180.83
Four Bedrooms Rate:£1,378.00
Can I talk to someone at the council about problems with my private landlord?
Citizens Advice Hounslow offers free information and advice to help people resolve their housing issues. Alternatively you can email the housing services team- or visit them in person:
Housing Client Service
Civic Centre
Lampton Road
Hounslow
TW3 4DN
For other difficulties with your landlord, the council recommends you seek advice from Shelter
Do private landlords in Hounslow have to get a licence?
All councils have to license properties which are Houses in Multiple Occupation, where three or more people who are not all members of the same family share a kitchen, bathroom or toilet.
You can find a list of all registered Houses in Multiple Occupation here
Does Hounslow Council have a stand alone PRS strategy in its housing policy?
Yes, Hounslow Council wants to see private renting in the borough move away from rogue landlords, and into ‘a healthy functioning private rented sector meeting housing need’.
According to the housing policy, they will do this by:
- Increasing the use of the private rented sector to discharge the council’s homelessness duty, and reduce the need for temporary accommodation.
- Incentivising landlords to work with the borough through the Let-Start Scheme and the Private Sector Leasing scheme.
- Working with institutional developers, and registered providers, to encourage the right mix of housing, including large-scale private market rent scheme.
- Using grants and legislative powers to bring empty dwellings back into use to meet housing needs.
Does Hounslow Council have a PRS forum where private renters can discuss ways of making private renting fairer?
No, but as they do have one for landlords, it might be a good idea to suggest a renters’ forum to the council!
How many prosecutions has Hounslow Council made against criminal landlords?
We are still waiting for an up to date figure from the council, but do know of this recent story regarding prosecutions. We also know that Hounslow made seven prosecutions between 2011 and 2014
Every council is divided between Councillors, who are elected politicians, and non-political officers, who are appointed to do a particular job. In Hounslow, this person might be useful to talk to:
Councillor Katherine
Cabinet Member for Housing
07764 758644
katherine.dunne@hounslow.gov.uk