Former TV landlord warns over ‘sub-standard’ homes for Ukrainian refugees

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Private landlords housing Ukrainian refugees should ensure their homes are up-to-scratch, says a former landlord, after one family was forced to live in a filthy flat.

Tenant and former landlord Tim Earing (pictured) applied through the Homes for Ukraine scheme to house a mother and her two children (main picture) in his Beckenham flat, but the father and grandmother arrived with them, which meant he didn’t have enough room.

Earing has previously appeared on Paul Shamplina’s Channel 5 show, Nightmare Tenants, Slum Landlords when he was having problems evicting a tenant.

His experience, along with a number of serious health issues, prompted him to sell his rental property and he now lives in social housing.

Flat stay

“I didn’t turn the Ukrainian family away and they all stayed in my flat for two weeks but I couldn’t house them legally as there were too many of them and I hadn’t had my DBS check done by the council by then – my landlord also hadn’t given me the go-ahead despite numerous phone calls,” he tells LandlordZONE.

“Thankfully, local churches and the community helped provide mattresses and beds.”

Bromley Council moved the family into a bigger house owned by a private landlord but it was sub-standard, says Earing.

“It was filthy, the kitchen was thick with grease and it smelt of cat pee. I helped them get it to a reasonable condition but it was unacceptable for them to have to live like that. Thankfully, the landlord has now agreed to wash the carpets.”

Inadequate

He’s frustrated that some landlords are getting paid by councils to provide inadequate properties to refugees and says local authorities also need to step up their response and provide safer homes, whether temporary or long-term.

However, the experience hasn’t put him off and he’s hoping his landlord will give him the go-ahead to try again.

“It’s the best thing I ever did and I’ve met some wonderful people,” he adds.

LandlordZONE has approached Bromley Council for a comment.

Read the latest government guidance on housing Ukrainian refugees.

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