Councils Caught Out Over Failing To Tackle Bad Landlords

Councils across England are failing to use new powers to kick out crooks across the private rented sector. Figures made public by parliamentary answer show that over the 18 months until the end of September last year, just three Rent Repayment Orders across England had been made by councils. David Smith, RLA policy director, said: “For all the talk about (councils) needing new powers, the reality is that many are not properly using the wide range of powers they already have to drive out criminal landlords. Laws without proper enforcement mean nothing – it is time for councils to start acting against the crooks.” Read more on 24housing.

https://www.24housing.co.uk/news/councils-caught-out-over-failing-to-tackle-bad-landlords/

Tax Rises And Tougher Regulation Kick In For Private Rented Sector

New conditions to crackdown on rogue landlords come in alongside tax rises critics claim will increase rents and stifle investment in the private rental sector. Housing minister Gavin Barwell says the new regulatory powers will give councils an edge over landlords flouting the law. Councils can now impose fines of up to £30,000 as an alternative to prosecution for a range of housing offences and retain all of the income to make sure it is used for private sector housing enforcement purposes. Rent Repayment Orders, which can be issued to penalise landlords managing or letting unlicensed properties, have also been extended. Read more on 24housing.

Landlords – Parliamentary Written Answer

Jon Trickett:  To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to help strengthen local authority powers to deal with rogue landlords.

Gavin Barwell: The Government introduced a package of measures in the Housing and Planning Act 2016 to help local authorities crack down on rogue landlords. They comprise civil penalties of up to £30,000 as an alternative to prosecution, the expansion of Rent Repayment Orders to cover a wider range of offences, a database of rogue landlords and property agents and banning orders to prevent serious and prolific offenders from being involved in the renting out or management of private rented properties. In addition, over the past five years, we have have made £12 million available to a range of local authorities to help them tackle acute and complex problems associated with rogue landlords. This has resulted in the inspection of over 70,000 properties with more than 5,000 landlords now facing further enforcement action. 

Private Rented Housing – Parliamentary Written Answer

Royston Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to ensure private landlords do not exploit vulnerable tenants.

Brandon Lewis: We are determined to crack down on the small number of landlords that let unsafe and sub-standard accommodation. The Housing and Planning Bill will establish tough new measures, including a database of rogue landlords and property agents, banning orders for serious or repeat offenders, a stricter fit and proper person test, extending Rent Repayment Orders and introducing civil penalties of up to £30,000. In addition, we have made nearly £12 million available to local authorities to help them tackle rogue landlords in their areas. Since 2011, nearly 40,000 inspections have taken place with over 3,000 landlords facing further enforcement action or prosecution through renting out unsafe, squalid and often illegal property.

Private Rented Housing: Evictions – Parliamentary Written Answer

Kate Osamor:  To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to further control the ability of private landlords to evict tenants at short notice.

Brandon Lewis: The Housing and Planning Bill introduced on 13 October contains a range of measures that are intended to crack down on criminal landlords, thereby helping to improve the sector and ensure tenants get a better deal. There will be a blacklist of rogue landlords and letting agents, banning orders for the most prolific and serious offenders, civil penalties of up to £5,000 for certain breaches of housing legislation, Rent Repayment Orders to cover situations where a tenant has been illegally evicted or the landlord has failed to rectify a serious health and safety hazard in the property, and a tougher fit and proper person test for landlords letting out licensed properties, such as Houses in Multiple Occupation.