Some landlords are unaware they could face fines and RRO issues in selective licensing areas
2 years ago | 2 comments
Council claims landlord civil penalties are not effective
9:27 AM, 12th January 2026, 3 months ago
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A council has claimed civil penalties are not enough to tackle ‘rogue’ landlords as it issues its first banning order.
Bradford council says financial penalties “are not always effective in preventing further breaches” and the landlord banning order is for someone who is considered a serial offender due to a long history of convictions.
Penalty notices are difficult and time-consuming
According to a report by Bradford council compiled by the Regeneration and Environment Scrutiny Committee, more than £2 million in civil penalties have been issued to landlords who breached housing standards.
However, the council says only £400,000 of that amount has been collected, and they say this shows that financial penalties alone are not effective enforcement.
The report says: “Civil penalty notices (CPN) are difficult and time-consuming to recover with cases in abeyance due to appeals for some time and can also result in written off debt, of the total CPNs issued, £90,000 has had to be written off.
“Whilst they provide an alternative to prosecution, they are not seen as always being effective in preventing further breaches, and so prosecution may be a more effective tool in some cases.”
Bradford Council has now decided to pursue a landlord banning order against an owner with a large portfolio of HMOs.
The council says the landlord has already been issued £40,000 in civil financial penalties, and further prosecution action is being prepared.
Landlords respond positively to proactive inspections
The report also claims proactive inspections by the council on rented properties in the area have been well received by landlords.
The report says: “Agents and landlords on the whole respond positively to proactive inspections (this is being demonstrated in Great Horton). All are advised beforehand of the reasons for the approach and what is expected of them.
“There is usually no objection to the inspections and more co-operation than obstruction. It is made clear to agents/landlords why the inspections are taking place and as a result the relationship between them and the tenant is not jeopardised. Officers are not aware of any threats of retaliatory eviction.”
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Member Since April 2018 - Comments: 372
10:41 AM, 12th January 2026, About 3 months ago
As I have said before my council can’t even be bothered to respond to tenants complaining about their landlord or tenants complaining about council housing so what is this really about. If all council had responded in the past they could have rooted out the small minority of rogue landlords rather than bringing in these invasive draconian measures.
Member Since September 2018 - Comments: 3514 - Articles: 5
5:15 PM, 12th January 2026, About 3 months ago
They have sweeping powers and now complaining that fair due process isn’t swift enough for their liking!
What do they want – immediate Council retention of the private property and LL put in the stocks???
Member Since April 2018 - Comments: 372
5:28 PM, 12th January 2026, About 3 months ago
Reply to the comment left by Reluctant Landlord at 12/01/2026 – 17:15
Yes very likely. Vote them out asap.
Member Since May 2024 - Comments: 204
7:05 PM, 12th January 2026, About 3 months ago
Are 40k – 100k fines not enough for them?
I guess I have led a sheltered life as I only let houses in small towns and not big cities. All the landlords I know are decent people that look after their houses and their tenants. I don’t know any landlords that operate under the radar. I’m sure that they exist. What I hate is under the RRA, why am I being tarnished with the same brush?
The court system was broken before the RRA came in, there is no wonder that councils can not bring what they call rouge landlords to justice.
What annoys me most is that council and social homes are in a worse state than the PRS that I see.
I had an elderly tenant wanting a council bungalow for a few years and she told me that the properties the council showed her were so bad, she wouldn’t let a dog live in them, and she wasn’t a pet owner.
I currently have 3 long term elderly tenants looking for bungalows. They all asked me if I have any available but the only 1 I have the tenant is a family member and she will never move out of it due to low rent and location.
Member Since May 2014 - Comments: 620
7:53 PM, 12th January 2026, About 3 months ago
Reply to the comment left by Desert Rat at 12/01/2026 – 19:05
You are spot on.
I have one ex-council flat and they are hopeless at maintaining the fabric of the building so I assume the same applies to their flats and houses.
I have had severe penetrating damp because it took the council nearly 6 months to work out how to repair a broken cast iron downpipe which caused the problem.
Only when I contacted one of the directors of the company who the council pay to do their maintenance and repairs did I get things done.
Recently I have had leaks from the upstairs bathroom but that was sorted out with the insurance.
All problems that with proper maintenance would not happen.
Member Since May 2021 - Comments: 392
9:30 PM, 12th January 2026, About 3 months ago
It’s all about the money and we are their cash cows , well that’s what they’re hoping for.
Member Since October 2013 - Comments: 1635 - Articles: 3
9:09 AM, 13th January 2026, About 3 months ago
Reply to the comment left by Reluctant Landlord at 12/01/2026 – 17:15
Yet, it’s OK for landlords to accept due [eviction] process, for many months, with the council telling feckless tenants to remain in situ until the bailiffs arrive.
Member Since September 2018 - Comments: 3514 - Articles: 5
10:12 AM, 13th January 2026, About 3 months ago
Reply to the comment left by PH at 12/01/2026 – 21:30
all cows stop producing milk at some point.
Member Since May 2021 - Comments: 392
10:54 AM, 13th January 2026, About 3 months ago
Reply to the comment left by Reluctant Landlord at 13/01/2026 – 10:12
The sooner the better. Won’t be long now before the exorbitant fines start to roll out.
Member Since April 2018 - Comments: 372
1:17 PM, 13th January 2026, About 3 months ago
Reply to the comment left by NewYorkie at 13/01/2026 – 09:09
I suppose this is the “levelling up” I keep hearing government banging on about . British justice and fairness at its best.