NRLA report reveals councils’ shocking failure to tackle rogue landlords
Less than half the fines levied against rogue landlords have been collected by local authorities, according to new data gathered by the NRLA.
According to FOI data obtained by the association, between 2021 and 2023 a total of £13 million worth of civil penalties were issued by councils. Despite this, just £6 million has been collected.
Local authorities can issue civil penalties of up to £30,000 for a range of offences committed by rogue landlords. This cash can then be used to fund further enforcement activity.
The data also reveals how almost half of local authorities (49 per cent) did not issue any civil penalties between 2021 and 2023, whilst 69 per cent issued just five or fewer.
The figures come as the Renters (Reform) Bill, currently making its way through Parliament, extends the range of offences that councils can issue civil penalties for. This raises questions over how they plan to use these newly acquired powers when almost half are not using the very considerable powers they already have.
What needs to change?
The NRLA is calling for the creation of a new national Chief Environmental Health Officer to lead the charge for improved enforcement against rogue and criminal landlords.
It believes the Government should also establish a recruitment and training fund to boost capacity in council enforcement teams, and better support the sharing of best practice between councils.
Ben Beadle, Chief Executive of the NRLA, said: "Rogue and criminal landlords cause misery for their tenants and undermine the reputation of the responsible majority. Tackling them should be a high priority for councils.
"At a time of tight budgets, it is strange that councils are failing to collect the fines levied on those landlords failing to do the right thing.
"It makes a mockery of the deterrent such fines should be. It will also come as a bitter blow to the many responsible landlords who comply with, and exceed their responsibilities - but are subject to licensing regimes and associated fees all the same.
“It is vital that the Government and councils work together to boost the capacity of enforcement teams to make better use of the existing powers they have to tackle poor quality housing. Without this, additional protections for tenants in the Renters (Reform) Bill run the risk of being meaningless."
The NRLA will next week present the data to the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for the private rented sector.
To read the report in full click here.
