This Forum provides participants with an excellent opportunity to examine successful methods of tackling rogue landlords and improving housing standards across the private rents sector. Attendees will be updated on the impact of the powers and measures created to tackle rogue landlords from the 2016 Housing and Planning Act, as well as how to effectively engage with tenants to improving housing standards. In addition, best practice practitioners will share guidance on how to clamp down on rogue landlords through robust enforcement, working in partnerships and using selective licensing schemes.
This Forum is also open to the Housing, Voluntary and Private Sectors to encourage networking and debate.
Turing policy into practice: How can local councils utilise changes in the Housing and Planning Act 2016 to tackle rogue landlords?
What are the government’s next steps to further support local councils to crack down on rogue landlords?
According to the November 2018 investigation by The Guardian and ITV, almost 90% of local authorities failed to use new powers to fine rogue landlords in 2017. Furthermore, the Residential Landlords Association (RLA) stated that only 11% of local authorities issued a civil penalty notice against a landlord or letting agent across 2017-18.
These new powers were first implemented by the government in April 2017, as part of the Housing and Planning Act 2016. They allow councils to wield civil penalties of up to £30,000 and Rent Repayment Orders as a tool to reprimand offending landlords. Local authority powers were further extended in March 2018, to tackle the issue of overcrowding across the private rented sector. Limits on bedroom size and the number of people living in each bedroom of a multiple occupancy home came into effect. Finally, to boost market and renter confidence the government established a national database of rogue landlords and letting agents convicted of offences to support prospective tenants. Furthermore, to build on these powers and ensure high-quality living standards the government introduced requirements that landlords install energy efficiency measures in homes with the lowest energy performance ratings in November 2018. This will help residents to save money, tackle rogue landlords and drive up health and safety standards across the Private Rented Sector. At the same time, in January 2019 the Government distributed £2.4 million worth of funding to over 50 council to increase action against irresponsible landlords, examples of programmed created included training programmes and creating a multi-agency enforcement team.
Furthermore, in April 2019 The Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government released two new online guides to support local authorities. One was designed for enforcement practitioners which includes online learning modules for officers who were unable to attend the national programme, with the other guide being focused on tenants and landlords, providing support and links to in depth guidance on legislation.
It is vital that the housing sector and local councils come together to tackle unacceptable standards of housing and drive improvements in living standards across the private rented sector. To achieve this councils must use all powers at their disposal, such as banning and rent repayment orders, to prevent rogue landlords from exploiting tenants and protect the most vulnerable residents across the UK.
Adrian Chowns is a qualified Building Surveyor who also holds a Master’s Degree in Environmental Health and is currently working as the Property Licensing Manager for Coventry City Council where he manages the Council`s Housing Enforcement and Property Licensing Teams.
Adrian is a specialist housing professional with over 25 years’ experience in dealing with private sector housing matters. He is proficient in enforcing conditions in the PRS and has ran a number of property licensing schemes.Adrian has also sat on a number of Government led working groups and regularly provides talks at conferences and events about private sector housing initiatives and enforcement.
Richard Lambert joined the National Landlords Association as Chief Executive Officer in October 2011. He began his career as a parliamentary civil servant in the House of Commons, where over 10 years he worked on Select Committees, various aspects of the legislative process and interparliamentary affairs. Following a brief spell in commercial lobbying, he moved into trade associations, spending five years as the Policy Director covering residential issues at the British Property Federation, then becoming Chief Executive of the British Woodworking Federation in 2002. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and a former Chairman of the National Training Organisation, Housing Potential.
The National Landlords Association (NLA) is the UK’s leading organisation for private-residential landlords, with 40,000 members. These range from full-time landlords with large property portfolios to those with just a single letting. It currently employs over 30 full-time staff and has a network of regional representatives and branches throughout the UK.
NLA membership helps landlords make a success of their lettings business by providing a wide range of information, advice and services. The association campaigns for the legitimate interests of landlords and encourages a fair and balanced private-rented sector by seeking to influence all levels of government and making landlords’ collective voice heard in the media. It seeks to raise standards in the sector while aiming to ensure that landlords are aware of their statutory rights and responsibilities.
Lydia is a Senior Project Officer in the Private Rented Sector team at the Greater London Authority, working to support tangible improvements in the rental sector to improve the lives of London’s private tenants. Lydia leads on key Mayoral programmes including the Rogue Landlord and Agent Checker and the London Boroughs Private Rented Sector Partnership.
Silviya joined Centre for London in August 2016 and currently heads up the Transport and Environment research programme. Since joining, she has authored reports on cross-borough collaboration in increasing affordable housing supply, managing the conflicting pressures on our roads and streets, and supporting young Londoners’ aspirations.
Prior to Centre for London, Silviya worked at the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry, where she managed the research and survey programme and authored reports on various topics affecting London businesses. These included reports on the business impact of housing under supply and construction skill shortages in London.