Vulnerable tenants being left at the mercy of callous landlords

theguardian.com:

It was heartbreaking to read about the experiences of Chanel Sultan and her young family (Rats, mould, damp: one woman’s story reveals the ugly truth about the UK’s biggest housing association, 17 February). But unfortunately it was not shocking. The total dereliction of duty shown by the housing association – except to its shareholders – is sickening but, again, not shocking. Why? Because we live in a world where the haves are oblivious to, or ignoring, everyone else struggling beneath them.

Tragically, many like Sultan are left to drown in a world where even rats are treated better. I was forced to escape an abusive husband while living abroad. I returned to the UK with three young children and two large suitcases. In the 15 years since then, I have been evicted three times by private landlords and forced to find a new home for my family in a very short time, while covering all the costs of moving by going further into debt. Each time the landlord has been either selling up or planning to raise the rent. On separate occasions, we were driven out by black mould, and by an overflowing septic tank.

Maybe we were lucky not to be offered social housing. How can our children ever escape housing poverty? Something big needs to change before more families drown in the filth and squalor of our inequitable housing situation. I can’t help feeling that people like Sultan and myself, and all the many others like us, are repeatedly punished for not owning our own homes.Belinda FowlerMarlborough, Wiltshire

I’m a retired fire officer who has had to deal with housing associations as part of my job, and Chanel Sultan’s story is far from an isolated one. Some large housing companies hide behind their logos, their 0345 phone numbers and