Council funding to crack down on rogue landlords
English councils are set to receive additional funding and training to help tackle rogue landlords, ahead of taking on new responsibilities when renters’ rights reforms come into force next month.
All 317 local authorities in England will share £41 million in funding, building on an earlier £18 million allocation made last autumn.
The funding is intended to prepare councils for enhanced powers and obligations under the Renters’ Rights Act, which is scheduled to take effect on May 1.
Under the new legislation, councils will be placed under a formal “duty to enforce”, requiring them to ensure landlords comply with rules prohibiting bidding wars between tenants and the use of no-fault evictions.
Landlords who commit serious or repeated breaches of the rules could face increased penalties of up to £40,000, which is £10,000 higher than the current maximum fine.
David Smith, property litigation partner at London law firm Spector Constant & Williams said: “Spread across more than 300 local authorities, the additional funding is unlikely to transform enforcement overnight. Many councils already struggle with limited housing enforcement teams, and the new ‘duty to enforce’ could place significant pressure on existing resources. No amount of money will resolve the shortage of qualified and experienced environmental health officers.
“In practice, compliant landlords are unlikely to notice immediate changes, but those operating outside the rules may face increased scrutiny and higher financial penalties. We are likely to see an increase in disputes as the new legislation beds in and areas of uncertainty are tested through the courts.”
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