NEARLY a third of privately rented homes in West Cheshire are not up to scratch.

That's according to Cheshire West and Chester Council, which dealt with hundreds of complaints last year from noise nuisance to major levels of disrepair.

According to a stock condition survey carried out for the council, out of about 21,000 households in the borough renting privately, those not meeting the Decent Homes Standard was 6,383.

The Decent Homes Standard was introduced by the Government and aims to provide a minimum standard of housing conditions and covers everything from making sure the property meets current statutory minimum standards and is in a reasonable state of repair, through to the property having reasonably modern facilities and services, and a reasonable degree of thermal comfort.

Councillor Angela Claydon, Cabinet Member for Housing, said: “The council's Better Renting Campaign is about making sure that tenants renting in the private rented sector are housed in safe and secure housing.

"We know there are some tenants living in homes that require their landlord to carry out repairs and improvements. I would urge any tenant renting a property requiring repairs to report these to their landlord in the first instance.

“Should a landlord be unwilling to carry out any necessary repairs, then tenants should report this to the council's Housing Standards Team on 0300 123 7038 who will liaise with the landlord to remedy the situation.”

During the last financial year, the Council dealt with 495 housing-related complaints ranging from noise nuisance through to major levels of disrepair; and brought 128 homes up to the Decent Homes Standard.

The most common complaints relate to damp and mould which are caused by a build-up of moisture, a lack of ventilation and ineffective heating.

Councillor Claydon added: “All tenants are entitled to live in a safe home but tenants need to do their part and report any repairs to their landlord as soon as possible so that the landlord can make arrangements to resolve the complaint.

"Where a landlord refuses to carry out a repair, then the council will step in.”