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Tougher punishments needed for rogue landlords, councils say Landlords who put lives as risk 'should be jailed', councils say
(about 7 hours later)
Landlords in England who commit housing offences must face tougher punishments, including jail sentences, the Local Government Association (LGA) has said. Landlords who commit housing offences must face tougher punishments, including jail sentences, the Local Government Association (LGA) has said.
The LGA, which represents councils in England and Wales, said many rogue landlords were receiving "paltry" fines for breaching housing rules.The LGA, which represents councils in England and Wales, said many rogue landlords were receiving "paltry" fines for breaching housing rules.
In one case 10 people, including children, were living in a property infested with cockroaches and mice.In one case 10 people, including children, were living in a property infested with cockroaches and mice.
Currently the highest penalty for housing offences is a fine.Currently the highest penalty for housing offences is a fine.
The LGA said a small minority of landlords were "creating misery" for tenants.The LGA said a small minority of landlords were "creating misery" for tenants.
'Little choice' 'It makes no difference'
In theory this can be unlimited, but the LGA said a lack of guidelines was forcing magistrates to take landlords' financial circumstances into consideration during sentencing, resulting in "paltry fines". In theory fines can be unlimited, but the LGA said a lack of guidelines was forcing magistrates to take landlords' financial circumstances into consideration during sentencing, resulting in "paltry fines".
The average fine for housing offences is £1,500. The average fine for housing offences is £1,500, the maximum fine is £5,000.
The LGA has called for tougher sentencing guidelines - including the option of custodial sentences - and a blacklist for persistent offenders that could be accessed by local authorities. Gerald Vernon-Jackson, vice chairman of the LGA, told BBC 5 live: "For a landlord who owns hundreds of houses and he gets tens of thousands of pounds every month, it's like giving a premiership footballer a speeding fine of £1,000 - it makes no difference.
It comes as the government considers responses to a consultation it launched on improving the private rental sector and tackling rogue landlords. "We have to have some things available to the courts to use in the most serious of circumstances."
LGA housing spokesman councillor Peter Box said: "The courts need to punish rogue landlords proportionately and there should be a consistent standard when it comes to licensing. Blacklist
"We know that the majority of tenants in the private rented sector are satisfied with their accommodation, but that shouldn't distract from the fact there are far too many rogue landlords creating misery for people who often see themselves as having little choice but to put up with it."
'Invitation for exploitation'
A landlord in Redbridge, north-east London, was fined £3,000 in 2014 for failing to rid his property of mice and cockroaches and forcing 10 tenants, including children, to share a damp and mouldy kitchen.A landlord in Redbridge, north-east London, was fined £3,000 in 2014 for failing to rid his property of mice and cockroaches and forcing 10 tenants, including children, to share a damp and mouldy kitchen.
In Coventry six tenants were forced to live in a property for 12 months without fire alarms and a proper escape route, after which their landlord was fined £100.In Coventry six tenants were forced to live in a property for 12 months without fire alarms and a proper escape route, after which their landlord was fined £100.
Richard Lambert, the chief executive of the National Landlords' Association, said there was "certainly a problem with enforcement of the existing legislation".
"The only way you're really going to have an impact on those people [rogue landlords] is to find some way of really tough sanctions," he said.
But Mr Lambert also stressed that rogue landlords were in a minority, and not a commonplace experience.
The LGA has called for a blacklist of persistent offenders that could be accessed by local authorities.
It comes as the government considers responses to a consultation it launched on improving the private rental sector and tackling rogue landlords.
LGA housing spokesman councillor Peter Box added: "The courts need to punish rogue landlords proportionately and there should be a consistent standard when it comes to licensing.
"We know that the majority of tenants in the private rented sector are satisfied with their accommodation, but that shouldn't distract from the fact there are far too many rogue landlords creating misery for people who often see themselves as having little choice but to put up with it."
'Lives at risk'
"Councils are doing everything they can to tackle bad practice by rogue landlords. However, they are being hamstrung by a system racked by delays, bureaucracy and feeble fines," Mr Box added."Councils are doing everything they can to tackle bad practice by rogue landlords. However, they are being hamstrung by a system racked by delays, bureaucracy and feeble fines," Mr Box added.
"Magistrates should be able to take the seriousness of the offence into consideration and jail rogue landlords who put lives at risk. "Magistrates should be able to take the seriousness of the offence into consideration and jail rogue landlords who put lives at risk."
"Fines must match the offence, rather than landlords' ability to pay - which is an open invitation for exploitation."
The National Landlords' Association welcomed plans to drive rogue landlords out of the sector but said courts needed to have the discretion to impose fines that were not beyond an offender's ability to pay.The National Landlords' Association welcomed plans to drive rogue landlords out of the sector but said courts needed to have the discretion to impose fines that were not beyond an offender's ability to pay.
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