The National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) has released data showing local councils’ inadequate efforts in collecting fines from rogue landlords.
According to the NRLA, between 2021 and 2023, councils issued £13m in civil penalties but only succeeded in collecting £6m.
This enforcement gap is highlighted by the fact that 49% of local authorities did not issue any civil penalties in the same period, and 69% issued five or fewer.
The findings come as the Renters (Reform) Bill, which would increase the range of offences subject to civil penalties, is discussed in Parliament.
This raises questions about the effectiveness of councils in using the powers they already possess.
Ben Beadle, chief executive of the NRLA, stressed the importance of addressing these issues: “Rogue and criminal landlords cause misery for their tenants and undermine the reputation of the responsible majority. Tackling them should be a high priority for councils.
“At a time of tight budgets, it is strange that councils are failing to collect the fines levied on those landlords failing to do the right thing.
“It makes a mockery of the deterrent such fines should be. It will also come as a bitter blow to the many responsible landlords who comply with, and exceed, their responsibilities – but are subject to licensing regimes and associated fees all the same.”
Beadle also called for a collaborative effort between the government and councils to enhance enforcement capabilities to ensure that future tenant protections in the Renters (Reform) Bill are not rendered meaningless.
