Propertymark backs wider Rent Repayment Order crackdown

Propertymark has welcomed the government’s decision to widen the scope of tougher Rent Repayment Orders (RRO) to protect tenants on housing support.

Ministers have confirmed that a pilot scheme allowing councils to pursue expanded RRO’s will be rolled out to 41 local authorities across England.

That follows early signs that the approach is helping recover public funds and deter poor practice in the private rented sector.

Rogue landlord crackdown

Propertymark says: “We welcome the UK government’s efforts to crack down on rogue landlords and improve standards in the private rented sector – particularly moves that give councils stronger enforcement tools and enable RROs to be more impactful.

“However, local authorities often lack the capacity and resources to enforce existing regulations effectively and tackle rogue landlords.”

It added: “Additional enforcement powers must be backed by adequate funding and staffing to make a real difference.”

Renting unlicensed homes

Under the extended programme, local authorities will be able to reclaim up to 24 months of rent or housing support payments from landlords who rent out unlicensed homes.

They can also claim if a landlord fails to comply with improvement notices or allow tenants to live in unsafe conditions.

The increase from the previous cap reflects stronger enforcement powers introduced through the Renters’ Rights Act.

Successful pilots

Government figures point to early pilot success in areas such as Camden, where almost £100,000 has already been recovered and cases referred for fraud investigation.

Officials say this shows how the enhanced powers can strip public money from ‘rogue’ operators and redirect it towards enforcement activity and housing standards.

The expansion will see a further 38 councils join the scheme, covering large parts of London, the North East, Yorkshire, the Midlands, the South West and the East of England.

Areas included range from Barnet and Tower Hamlets to Leeds, Bristol, Coventry and Peterborough.

Councils need support

However, despite backing the tougher RRO stance, Propertymark has cautioned that enforcement alone will not solve long-standing problems in the PRS.

The organisation said stronger powers must be matched by sufficient funding and staffing at council level if they are to have meaningful impact.

Propertymark is renewing its call for a rethink of property licensing, arguing that simply extending existing discretionary schemes risks penalising compliant landlords and agents while missing the worst offenders.

In its view, some local regimes operate as blunt instruments, generating fees without necessarily improving outcomes for tenants.