Rogue Landlords: New Measures - Including Jail - Needed, Councils Say

Tough new measures – including jail sentences – are needed to tackle rogue landlords, councils warn. In response to a government consultation, the Local Government Association (LGA), which represents more than 370 councils in England and Wales, has called for stronger sentencing guidelines for magistrates and a wider range of penalties so that the small minority of rogue landlords who exploit their tenants are properly held to account for renting out sub-standard accommodation. LGA research found it can take up to 16 months to prosecute a rogue operator. In almost three-quarters of cases, the average fine for a criminal landlord – many of whom are accruing large profits every year while tenants live in dangerous conditions – was £5,000 or less. Read more on the LGA website.