60% of London renters forced to live with unacceptable conditions, including vermin-infested, damp or dangerous homes

60% of renters in the capital – equivalent to 1.5 million Londoners - have experienced problems in their rented homes in the past year, according to new research by housing
charity Shelter.

The Shelter and YouGov poll of private renters exposed the poor conditions some Londoners have been forced to endure in the last year, with the most common problems including:

• Damp or mould (39% of renters)

• Poor insulation or excess cold (26%)

• Animal infestations such as mice and cockroaches (25%)

Even more worryingly, some Londoners are being put in danger as result of the unsafe conditions in their rented home. 14% of renters had experienced a problem with electrical hazards, while 1 in 6 lived in a home which is poorly secured.

With the average Londoner paying out a staggering 59% of their income on rent, and thousands of Londoners coming to Shelter for advice on renting problems, it's clear that something needs to be done to improve renting in the capital.

Shelter is urging the new Mayor of London to ask for more power to fix private renting, and calling for the introduction of London-wide licensing to protect Londoners from being exploited by rogue landlords.

Campbell Robb, Shelter's chief executive said: "Every day at Shelter we hear from London renters who are dealing with appalling conditions and, shockingly, most are paying extortionate rents for the privilege."We should all have a place to call home – somewhere warm, safe and secure, but for more than a million Londoners, home is cold, damp and often downright dangerous."It's about time London's 2.5 million renters were given a better deal. Renting in the capital doesn't have to be like this, and the Mayoral candidates need to show that they will take action to protect people from unsafe conditions."

Case Study: 63 year old Claire has been living with chronic damp and mould since July 2015, which has a huge impact on her health and quality of life:

"I've got cataracts in both eyes which desperately need to be treated but my doctor is concerned that if he operates, the damp and mould in my home will put my eyes at massive risk of infection and ultimately, an infection could cost me my eyesight."These horrendous conditions are not just affecting my health. I'm also studying for a qualification to turn my passion for baking into a business, but with my sight getting so bad that I've had to put this on hold. Essentially I've had to put my whole life on hold."