PRS Ombudsman will not ‘punish landlords’ but can assess repeat poor conduct claims government

The government has hinted that the Private Rented Sector (PRS) Ombudsman could take into account previous cases of inadequate conduct by landlords.

In a written parliamentary answer, housing minister Matthew Pennycook claimed the Ombudsman is not designed to ‘punish landlords’ but can consider evidence of repeated poor conduct.

The news comes after Peers previously warned that the PRS Ombudsman will add regulatory burden on landlords.

Redress not designed to punish landlords

In a written parliamentary question, Labour MP Mary Glindon asked: “Whether the Private Rented Sector Landlord Ombudsman will consider previous cases of inadequate conduct by landlords when making decisions on complaints”.

Mr Pennycook said: “The Private Rented Sector Landlord Ombudsman will resolve tenant complaints about their landlords’ actions or behaviours. The purpose of Ombudsman redress is to provide fair, independent resolution of complaints and ensure that an individual making a complaint is appropriately remedied when things go wrong.

“The Ombudsman will have the discretion to consider the individual circumstances of each complaint, based on the evidence provided by parties involved. This could include where evidence is provided of landlords’ repeated poor conduct.

“However, redress is not designed to ‘punish’ landlords. Local councils have a wide range of enforcement powers to tackle landlords who flout the rules and don’t keep their properties in an acceptable condition. We expect councils to take a proactive approach to enforcement in the private rented sector and give this the priority it deserves.”

Council fines

As previously reported by Property118, councils can now issue on-the-spot fines of  £7,000 for severe damp and mould, as well as for broken-down boilers during freezing temperatures.

Councils in England received £41 million from the government to pay for their new enforcement powers under the Renters’ Rights Act.