Councils have collected just a quarter of the total fines issued to them, meaning a sizeable proportion of rogue landlords are being let off the hook.
Between 2023/24 and 2024/25 of 285 English councils, a total of almost £30 million in civil penalties were imposed on private landlords, amounting to 3,700 cases. However Just a quarter of that amount (almost £7.5 million) was actually collected.
The data comes from a Freedom of Information Act request from the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA).
Ben Beadle, chief executive of the NRLA, said: “Tenants and the vast majority of responsible landlords will rightly be fed up with our findings.
“For too long a minority of rogue and criminal operators have allowed to act with impunity, bringing the sector into disrepute. It is galling then to see that those breaking the law are still failing to pay the price – leaving good landlords to pick up the tab in licensing fees.
“This also raises serious questions about how ready councils are to enforce the Renters’ Rights Act, and about the adequacy of the upfront funding provided to them to support enforcement action.”
The Renters’ Rights Act will increase the maximum amount that can be levied in civil penalties from £7,000 to £40,000 when it comes into force on 1 May.
The NRLA warned that without a major increase in upfront funding for council enforcement teams, rogue and criminal landlords will continue to slip through the net.
This leaves tenants at risk and undermines the reputation of good landlords.
The landlord association also called for the appointment of a chief environmental health officer to champion better enforcement.
The available resources of local authorities should be assessed to ascertain if they need more to enforce the Renters’ Rights Act.
Meanwhile councils should have to publish a yearly report on enforcement activity related to the private rented sector in their area.
