x
By using this website, you agree to our use of cookies to enhance your experience.

TODAY'S OTHER NEWS

'Local councils not doing enough to prosecute rogue letting agents' - NLA

Local authorities are failing in their duty to prosecute criminal letting agents, the National Landlords Association (NLA) has warned.

The NLA says a lack of enforcement is undermining efforts to improve the reputation of the private rental sector.

More than half of 20 local authorities did not prosecute a single letting agent between 2014 and 2018, according to a Freedom of Information (FoI) request made by the organisation.

Advertisement

The FoI request reveals that 32% of the 20 authorities contacted prosecuted three agents or fewer.

Of the 20 councils questioned, 13 had already introduced landlord licensing schemes and the NLA has identified Hammersmith and Fulham as not bothering to respond to the FoI request.

It pinpoints Liverpool City Council as the outlier in its sample of local authorities, following the council's 13 convictions of agents between 2014 and 2018.

 

The NLA says letting agents play an important role as intermediaries between landlords and tenants, but accuses some agents of making 'unauthorised alterations' to landlords' properties.

It says some agents also let landlords' properties to multiple renters, creating illegal Houses in Multiple Occupation which can leave the landlord liable to significant fines or criminal charges.

"Too many local authorities [are] failing in their duty to prosecute rogue letting agents. These bad ones can really poison the relationship between landlords and tenants," says Richard Lambert, chief executive of the NLA.

"We want to see local authorities take much firmer action."

"While many local authorities have introduced licensing schemes to crack down on rogue landlords, they seem to be allowing letting agents to get off scot-free," he says.

  • Paul Smithson

    I believe lots of local authorities should be prosecuted for renting sub-standard properties.

  • James B

    Why assume there is even letting agents needing prosecuted in those areas

    icon

    Because as letting agents we all know that there are.

     
  • icon

    When LAs can't (won't) police the T&C Planning Regs about 'To Let' boards they ain't gonna be bothered about sub-standard property unless it's a repeat offender on a regular basis. They will tell you they don't have the man(person)power.

  • icon

    And.............have you tried getting a pot-hole filled in under about three months? Me neither!

  • icon
    • 05 July 2019 23:47 PM

    There are good and bad LA the same as LL.
    Perhaps a requirement for LA to be qualified along with LL being required to undergo 30 hrs of CPD training every 5 years like HGV and PSV drivers have to do.
    Currently you can walk out of prison and set up as a LA and as a LL as well.
    This cannot be correct.
    Licencing and qualifications are required to make the PRS a safer space for tenants

icon

Please login to comment

MovePal MovePal MovePal