Laura Sandys is calling for decent homes for all tenants after claiming “some properties in my constituency are not fit for humans”.

The Thanet South MP raised the issue in the House of Commons yesterday, calling on the government to extend the decent homes standard to the private rented sector.

One ward in the Thanet South constituency has more than 70% privately rented accommodation.

She said: “While we have some excellent private landlords, we also suffer from some very bad landlords who don’t care about their tenants and are subjecting them to accommodation not fit for human habitation.

“Some properties in my constituency are not fit for humans - you can smell the damp long before you get through the door.

“This creates risks to their health and has dramatic consequences for their life chances, impacting attainment at school and at work.”

Ms Sandys believes the same standards should be met for privately rented accommodation and social housing.

She added: “We cannot allow the discrepancies between the standard of homes in the housing association and social sectors and those provided by private landlords to continue.

“We should not be letting these landlords off the hook and must demand higher quality for those families who do not have the luxury of choice.

“I believe that a home is the bedrock on which you build your family, safety and stability.

“We must make sure that we provide the best homes for all our constituents.”