Renters’ Rights Bill is doomed to fail without enforcement – NRLA

As Peers prepare to discuss the Renters’ Rights Bill, the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) says that Labour’s reforms are doomed to fail without proper enforcement.

The landlords’ organisation is highlighting the huge burden the Bill places on local authorities since they will need to deal with substantial changes.

Those changes include the Decent Homes Standard, measures to combat damp and mould and a new private rented housing database.

However, the NRLA points to Freedom of Information data which highlights that less than half of fines issued to criminal landlords in England between 2021 and 2023 were collected.

Also, 49% of English councils issued no fines at all during that period.

Responsible landlords ‘tarnished’

The NRLA’s chief executive, Ben Beadle, said: “For too long the vast majority of decent, responsible landlords have been tarnished by the actions of a minority of rogue operators failing to provide good enough housing.

“If planned reforms are to work, councils need to up their game at finding and rooting out those who have no place renting property out and making it easier for the law-abiding majority providing decent and safe homes.”

He added: “Our report today suggests local authorities will struggle to enforce much of what is in the Renters’ Rights Bill.

“Without further action, the only winners from all this will be the minority of unscrupulous landlords.”

Emergency cash bailouts

The Bill’s introduction coincides with financial strain on local governments, with one in four councils in England anticipating the need for emergency cash bailouts.

Coupled with ongoing organisational reforms, housing development demands and the social care crisis, councils are facing serious challenges.

The NRLA cautions that these pressures will hinder effective enforcement of the Bill.

It is now proposing several solutions:

• A government assessment of local authority enforcement resources
• Mandatory annual council reports on private rented sector enforcement
• Measures to avoid duplication between the national database and local licensing schemes.

The organisation also says there’s a need for a national Chief Environmental Health Officer position.