Tenants in England are living in homes with hazards that could put their health at risk, such as mould, or far more dangerous problems like missing smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.
That's according to research from housing charity Shelter, which found nearly a third of tenants (32%) said their house did not have a carbon monoxide alarm despite requiring one.
Polly Neate, chief executive of Shelter, said: "It is truly alarming that so many private renters are living in homes which aren't up to scratch and compromise their safety. A safe home is a basic standard that every renter has the right to expect.
"It's critical that every landlord is aware of their responsibilities and stays in step with the new Fitness for Human Habitation Act, which sets out standards to keep renters safe.
"But if landlords don't follow these rules, renters should be armed with the power to challenge their poor behaviour."
Not the only problems
As well as missing smoke detectors, three-fifths of renters (60%) said there had been disrepair in their home in the past two years that was not caused by them and their landlord was responsible for fixing.
One in six (15%) said the disrepair was a major threat to their health and safety.
In a survey of landlords, Citizens Advice found a quarter of them failed to make sure there is a smoke alarm on each floor of all of their properties.
A similar proportion failed to carry out an annual gas safety check or make sure that smoke and carbon monoxide alarms were working.
When asked why, some 31% of landlords said they found it had to keep up with rules and regulations.
Many were also unaware of their risks, with almost half (49%) not knowing they faced a fine of up to £5,000 for not checking smoke and carbon monoxide alarms are in working order on the first day of the tenancy.
Gillian Guy, chief executive of Citizens Advice, said: "Too many private renters live in hazardous homes - often with potentially fatal flaws.
"Weak and confusing regulation means landlords can struggle to understand their legal obligations, while tenants find it hard to get problems in their homes resolved.
"The Government must establish a national housing body to ensure landlords let property that meet legal standards, and gives renters the support they need when they don't."
Citizens Advice wants a national housing body for private renting to set standards, which could include creating a home "MOT", setting a "fit-and-proper-person" test for landlords and standardising rental contracts.
Minister for housing and homelessness Heather Wheeler said: "This Government is committed to cracking down on the small minority of landlords who are not giving tenants safe and secure places to live.
"We have given councils strong powers to make sure that when a property contains potentially serious health and safety risks, landlords must take immediate action."
