Councils go after criminal landlords in enforcement drive

Councils across England are cracking down on criminal landlords, with penalties running into thousands of pounds.

Hackney Council has pledged to impose “the biggest fines and strongest possible penalties” on the worst private landlords in the borough.

Meanwhile, Barnet Council has launched a series of targeted evening enforcement operations aimed at catching landlords who fail to meet their legal responsibilities.

Landlords are putting profit before people

Hackney Council has recruited more than 50 officers to its enforcement team as it steps up efforts to tackle poor-quality homes in the private rented sector.

The council says new powers under the Renters’ Rights Act, alongside its landlord licensing scheme, will help it crack down on criminal landlords. It has already fined one landlord £30,000 for failing to address fire safety concerns.

Zoë Garbett, Mayor of Hackney, claimed the council were on the side of tenants.

She said: “Landlords are putting profit before people. Too many renters pay eye-watering sums, only to live in unsafe homes.

“This has got to stop. From this month, we’re ramping up our inspections and seeking the biggest fines and strongest possible penalties for the worst private landlords in Hackney. It’s time our justice system was made to work for us.

‘‘Tell us if your landlord isn’t up to scratch; we’re on your side.’’

She added: “The worst landlords are also exploiting the benefits system, with billions transferred directly from the government to private landlords, forcing renters into terrible conditions.

“The work starts now to ensure that every resident in Hackney has a right to a safe, decent home; we will not accept anything less.’’

Minority of landlords operate outside the law

Barnet Council has also launched targeted evening enforcement operations, visiting 76 properties across the borough during the first night. The council says 22 properties are now subject to legal investigations over suspected failures to hold the required licence.

Most HMOs in Barnet require a licence, with landlords operating without one facing a financial penalty of up to £40,000.

Councillor Ross Houston, deputy leader and cabinet member for homes and regeneration at Barnet Council, said: “Everyone in Barnet deserves a safe and properly managed home. Most landlords take their responsibilities seriously and provide good-quality accommodation for their tenants, but a minority continue to operate outside the law.

“We will not hesitate to take action where landlords fail to meet the standards required of them or put their tenants at risk. These targeted operations allow our officers to identify problems first-hand and make sure those responsible are held to account.

“Our message to landlords is simple: understand your responsibilities, make sure your property is safe and, where a licence is required, get one.”

Proportionate and evidence-based

The news comes as Bath and North East Somerset Council considers plans to increase housing fines by up to 50% where aggravating factors are identified. These could include previous non-compliance, a breach lasting more than six months or deliberate offending.

However, Propertymark has warned that councils’ approach to housing enforcement must remain proportionate and evidence-based.

The industry body argues that minor or inadvertent breaches should not result in disproportionately high penalties.

In its consultation response, Propertymark said: “Aggravating factors should be clearly defined and applied consistently, rather than allowing relatively minor matters to result in a significant increase to an already substantial penalty.

“In particular, a failure to respond to a council letter should not automatically be treated as evidence of deliberate non-compliance. Landlords and letting agents may have legitimate reasons for not responding immediately, including administrative errors, correspondence being sent to an incorrect address, reliance on a managing agent, or simply failing to understand the significance of a particular request.

“There should be a clear distinction between genuine non-cooperation and an isolated failure to respond.”