Two councils target landlords with fines and licensing

Two councils target landlords with fines and licensing

0:01 AM, 21st March 2025, About a month ago 1

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Landlords are being targeted by two councils who claim they are clamping down on ‘negligent’ landlords.

In Knowsley, a new housing civil penalties policy has been agreed by the council which gives them the power to slap landlords with fines reaching £30,000.

This applies to those neglecting property upkeep or flouting Housing Act 2004 rules.

Offences range from ignoring improvement notices and breaches involving overcrowding, licensing violations and banning order infringements.

Moral duties to tenants

The council’s cabinet member for communities and neighbourhoods, Cllr Shelley Powell, said: “The threat of a significant financial penalty should serve as stark reminder to landlords that they must fulfil their legal and moral duties to their tenants, and ensure that homes are kept in good condition.

“Our residents deserve safe, warm and healthy homes and we’re making it crystal clear to rogue landlords that it will cost them much more if they fail to comply with the regulations than if they do.”

She adds: “The majority of landlords understand that it is in their best interests to maintain their homes and provide their tenants with a safe and secure living environment.

“But we’re determined to take tough action on rogue, negligent or criminal landlords.

“Now those who choose to ignore their responsibilities will soon be hit where it hurts – in their pockets.”

Landlords face substantial penalties

The council can now opt for these substantial penalties instead of prosecutions, provided they are satisfied ‘beyond reasonable doubt’ that offences have been committed.

Knowsley says the fines will reflect the offence’s gravity, tenant harm and the landlord’s track record.

The policy follows a detailed consultation earlier this year with landlords, the public and housing associations which received widespread approval.

Licensing scheme for Reading landlords

Meanwhile, Reading Borough Council is forging ahead with a licensing scheme to tackle substandard rented homes.

The PRS accounts for 40% of the town’s housing but the council says there have been issues with faulty fire alarms and poor waste management.

Landlords will need a licence costing £950 initially, rising to £1,250 annually thereafter.

To manage license enforcement, a delivery partner will oversee compliance because of staffing constraints.


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Godfrey Jones

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14:20 PM, 22nd March 2025, About a month ago

Yet again a money making Landlord cash cow designed to NOT just deal with the few rogue Landlords but even the decent honest conscientious ones!
I had husband and wife tenants then every visit her 'sister' was there. It's only now they've thankfully left that it's come to light 'my tenants' actually lived abroad and stayed in the house when visiting, the 'sister' wasn't her sister and the 'sister' had a boyfriend living there with their children and he was using the house to run a supply parts business. If the LA had discovered this I innocently could have been fined thousands as there were more than 3 separate households living there, so HMO + my Landlord's Insurance would have been null and void. And yes rent always paid on time, and even with 'sister' being present at every inspection everything seemed plausible!

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