Fines against landlords soar as Salford Mayor praises crackdown
12:01 AM, 21st August 2025, 8 months ago
3
Categories:
The Mayor of Salford has praised tough housing enforcement after rogue landlords were handed £2.2 million in fines.
According to the Manchester Evening News, the penalties were issued as part of a major enforcement crackdown targeting poor standards in the private rented sector.
The news comes after Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham launched the Good Landlord Charter, which aims to promote high standards in rental properties.
Enforcement side around the PRS is important
Salford Mayor, Paul Dennett, told the Manchester Evening News: “The whole enforcement side around the private rented sector is really important to the city of Salford.
“We’re supporting Greater Manchester local authorities with regards to the legislation and what’s possible around civil penalties, very embedded in devolution conversations around housing enforcement here, and very embedded around the operationalisation of the Good Landlord Charter.”
Since 2017, Manchester council has had the power to fine landlords who fail to respond to improvement notices or who do not hold the correct licence, such as a selective licence or HMO licence.
Councillor Tracy Kelly, the council’s housing lead, told the Manchester Evening News the licensing scheme has been a success.
She said: “We introduced the licensing scheme to improve conditions for tenants and improve management standards. So far, it has been a success. Landlords who do not comply with conditions will receive a visit from our enforcement officers and where necessary we will hand out fines.
“But the hard work does not stop here, we will continue to target landlords who fail to meet their obligations.”
113 penalties over the past two years
According to the Manchester Evening News, income from the penalties has been re-invested into the council’s housing standards and enforcement team to inspect more properties.
A previous article by Property118 reveals a National Residential Landlords Association report for 2022–23 showed English local authorities issued 1,651 civil penalties, with nearly two-thirds originating from just 20 councils. Half of England’s local authorities issued none at all.
The Times found that, in contrast, Greater Manchester’s 10 enforcement teams have issued 113 penalties over the past two years, a 43% increase.
Tags:
Good Landlord Charter, Greater Manchester housing, housing enforcement, landlord fines, Landlord Licensing, Private Rented Sector, Rogue landlords, Salford Mayor
Comments
Have Your Say
Every day, landlords who want to influence policy and share real-world experience add their voice here. Your perspective helps keep the debate balanced.
Not a member yet? Join In Seconds
Login with
or
Previous Article
Rents up 5.9% to £1,343 in a year - ONSNext Article
Council under fire over immediate HMO rule changeRelated Articles
Council powers to inspect landlord homes raises ‘exploitation’ fears
9 months ago | 9 comments
Salford and Wigan councils crack down on HMOs with fines and regulations
10 months ago | 2 comments
Member Since February 2018 - Comments: 627
9:52 AM, 21st August 2025, About 8 months ago
Greater Manchester is an overtly one-party state (not that everything isn’t that really) and we know that power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely, this statistical imbalance cannot display a simple enthusiasm but indicates a political agenda. Given the statistical bent of the article, it would be interesting to know and challenge the metrics of
‘We introduced the licensing scheme to improve conditions for tenants and improve management standards. So far, it has been a success. Landlords who do not comply with conditions will receive a visit from our enforcement officers and where necessary we will hand out fines’.
By what measure has the scheme ‘been a success’, what conditions were actually improved and from what baseline?
Member Since May 2015 - Comments: 2203 - Articles: 2
10:51 AM, 21st August 2025, About 8 months ago
A great success in lining the coffers of the local authority.
Member Since February 2018 - Comments: 627
12:56 AM, 22nd August 2025, About 8 months ago
Reply to the comment left by TheMaluka at 21/08/2025 – 10:51If the Council is raising more than compliance costs and then diverts that ‘profit’ to other areas of expenditure, it is operating illegaly, you may be right?.