A QUARTER of homes in Yorkshire fail to meet acceptable standards, according to a national charity.

Shelter has developed a new ‘Living Home Standard’, which aims to do for homes what the Living Wage campaign did for jobs.

This sets out five criteria for a decent home: affordability, decent conditions, stability, space and a good neighbourhood.

But its survey shows 27 per cent of people in Yorkshire and the Humber live in homes which fail to meet this benchmark.

Almost one in ten (nine per cent) live in homes which fail to meet the standard because of poor conditions, with problems including persistent pests, damp or safety hazards.

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And the homes of one in 20 people (five per cent) fail due to instability, largely driven by renters who feel they don’t have enough control over how long they can live in their home.

Shelter service manager Tracey Nathan said: “We know all too well that a home is much more than bricks and mortar – it’s a place that should allow us to live and thrive, rather than just get by.

“When Shelter was founded 50 years ago, it was with the hope that one day everyone would have access to a place they can truly call home.

“But the sad truth is that every day we speak to people in Yorkshire and the Humber living in homes that just aren’t up to scratch – from renting families forced to cope with poor conditions, to all those struggling to keep up with their sky high housing costs.

“Now is the time to get to grips with our housing crisis once and for all.

“We’re calling on the new government, alongside businesses and other charities, to work with us to increase the number of homes that meet the Living Home Standard.”

On Tuesday, Bradford Council is set to approve its new Bradford District Plan 2016-2020. One of its priorities is for “decent homes that people can afford to live in”.

Bradford Council has also been running a crackdown on slum landlords, called the Rogue Landlord Project.

There were 180 enforcement inspections of rented flats above shops and businesses such as take-aways. Hazards were found in three-quarters of the flats.

Most of the problems were resolved informally but in 20 cases, formal notices were served under the Housing Act, including three orders banning occupation of the flats until the problems were sorted.

The Council’s Housing Standards Team can be contacted on 01274 434520.

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