Mark Whitehead 28 February 2019

Council spending on tackling ‘criminal landlords’ down a quarter

The amount councils spend on tackling landlords who break the law has been cut by a quarter in recent years, according to the latest analysis.

The Residential Landlords Association says spending by local authorities in England on housing standard activities fell to £33.5m last year, a drop of £11m compared to eight years ago.

It says better enforcement of the law backed up by greater funding is key to driving out 'the minority of landlords who can make life a misery for tenants and bring the sector into disrepute'.

While the Government has recently made £2m available for councils to support efforts to tackle problem landlords, the RLA says 'one-off pots of money' do not provide help with planning long-term enforcement.

The association's policy manager John Stewart said: 'Criminal landlords undermine the reputation of the decent majority, cause tenants to suffer and have no place in the sector.

'Local authorities must have the funds they need to properly enforce the wide range of powers they already have to tackle sub-standard housing and criminal behaviour.

'Our analysis shows that for all the warm words, councils are in desperate need of new funding to ensure this happens.

'The Government should use the Spending Review to address this as a matter of urgency.'

SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Tea Time Club Assistant

Durham County Council
£24,027 pro-rata
Tea Time Club Assistant  Grade 1 £24,027 pro-rata Permanent 10 hours per week Required from September 2025 Would you like to work with a group of won Durham
Recuriter: Durham County Council

Licensing Assistant

Durham County Council
£26,403 £28,598
The Community Protection Service is looking for 2 Licensing Assistants to join the Business Compliance Team    1 x Temporary for 1 year 1 x Temporary Durham
Recuriter: Durham County Council

Lunchtime Supervisor

Durham County Council
£24,027 pro rata
Lunchtime Supervisor  Required from 1st September 2025 Grade 1    £24,027 pro rata Permanent We are seeking to appoint a Lunchtime Supervisor to join Durham
Recuriter: Durham County Council

Child Protection Chair (Registered Social Worker)

North East Lincolnshire Council
Up to £48,710 dependent upon experience
We are seeking an Child Protection Chair who is a registered qualified and experienced Social Worker. North East Lincolnshire
Recuriter: North East Lincolnshire Council

Organisation and Service Designer

North East Lincolnshire Council
NJC34 £43,693
If you’re someone who can blend creative storytelling to inspire customers, staff and leaders North East Lincolnshire
Recuriter: North East Lincolnshire Council
Linkedin Banner