William Eichler 23 February 2018

Council chiefs call for ‘minimum’ £30,000 fine for rogue landlords

Rogue landlords who commit serious housing offences should be fined a minimum of £30,000, council chiefs say.

Local authorities can enforce fines of up to £30,000 for offences by private landlords such as failing to license a property or not complying with an improvement notice.

However, there are no common sentencing guidelines for Magistrates when it comes to housing offences. They base their decisions on how much a landlord says they can afford rather than the seriousness of the offence.

The Local Government Association (LGA) says the most serious cases, such as fire safety breaches, should lead to fines that at least match the highest level of a civil penalty.

This will raise standards and provide consistency across the courts, they argue.

‘The majority of landlords are decent, responsible law-abiding citizens who do a great job in making sure their tenants are living in safe and quality housing,’ said Cllr Martin Tett, LGA housing spokesman.

‘Unfortunately there is a minority of rogue landlords who give those good landlords a bad name.

‘Councils want to work with landlords, not against them. But with more young people and families renting privately than ever before, we need to see reforms that will maintain and improve housing standards.

‘A key deterrent to rogue landlords would be for the Government to set common sentencing guidelines which delivers consistency across the courts.

‘It is not right that the level of civil penalty could outweigh that which is handed out by magistrates.’

Cllr Tett also called for greater freedoms to introduce private housing licensing schemes to improve rental standards for tenants.

Under the current system, local authorities have to apply to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government for permission to introduce schemes that cover more than 20% of an area or 20% of privately rented homes.

‘Many councils are already tackling issues in the private rental sector by bringing in landlord licensing schemes,’ said Cllr Tett.

‘But they are limited in how widely these can be introduced. We need to see these rules relaxed and councils given more freedom and flexibility in establishing schemes.

‘Landlord licensing schemes allow landlords to demonstrate that they are responsible and adhere to ensuring homes are maintained to a high standard.

‘It also protects and provides reassurance to tenants that they are living in a decent, safe and secure home.’  

SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Director of Public Health

Royal Borough of Greenwich
Up to £131,210
The Public Health department is at the heart of the council’s business. Greenwich, London (Greater)
Recuriter: Royal Borough of Greenwich

Head of Regeneration and Growth

Plymouth City Council
£68,387 - £74,411 (MFS and relocation available, pay award pending)
This is a unique opportunity to lead our award-winning development team and directly deliver hundreds of millions of pounds of projects. Plymouth, Devon
Recuriter: Plymouth City Council

Director of Adult Social Care

Wiltshire Council
£119,390 - £127,137
Join us as the Director of Adult Social Care and make a real difference to people’s lives. Wiltshire
Recuriter: Wiltshire Council

Assistant Director Planning, Performance & Engagement

East Sussex County Council
up to £97,700
With strong local communities, unspoilt countryside and vibrant coastal towns, East Sussex offers an exceptional quality of life to many. East Sussex
Recuriter: East Sussex County Council

Director of Finance & Commerce

Lancashire County Council
Up to £114,339
You will play a critical role in driving the organisation through complex change and innovation. Lancashire
Recuriter: Lancashire County Council
Linkedin Banner