Landlords could struggle to prove sub-letting tenants are acting illegally, making proposed new powers difficult to enforce, sector figures have warned. Housing minister Grant Shapps announced plans to make sub-letting of social homes a criminal offence, punishable by up to two years in prison and a maximum fine of £50,000. Currently, landlords can apply to a civil court to evict tenants found to be sub-letting but cannot pursue a criminal case. Under the proposals, council landlords would be able to request data from banks, building societies and utility companies in order to prove sub-letting and recoup any profit made by the sub-letting tenant. But in order to achieve a criminal conviction there is a higher burden of proof for landlords to meet than that required in a civil case.
Read more on Inside Housing.
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