Editor's note: This brief was summarised by The Property AI Newsroom from a report by Mortgage Solutions. Read the original article for full details.

Councils Collect Only a Quarter of Fines from Rogue Landlords, NRLA Finds

English councils have collected just a quarter of fines issued to rogue and criminal landlords, according to data from the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA). This comes despite a rise in property inspections under the Housing, Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS).

Between 2023/24 and 2024/25, the number of HHSRS inspections increased by just over 7%, from 85,326 in 2021/22–2022/23 to 91,620 in 2023/24–2024/25. Of the 285 English councils that responded, almost £30 million in fines was issued to private landlords during this period. However, only around £7.5 million—24.9%—of these fines were actually collected.

A total of 3,695 civil penalties were issued by local authorities in England for offences related to the private rented sector during the same timeframe.

Select Committee Highlights Enforcement Gaps

The cross-party Housing, Communities and Local Government Select Committee recently reported a "postcode lottery" in local authority regulation and enforcement of standards in the private rented sector. The committee found that many local authorities are failing to protect tenants and provide a meaningful deterrent against rogue landlords.

The committee recommended that the government require councils to publish annual reports on the regulation and enforcement of their local private rented markets. This would include data on inspection and enforcement activity, aiming to improve scrutiny and accountability of local authorities.

Implications for Letting Agents and Inventory Clerks

The findings highlight ongoing challenges in enforcement within the private rented sector, which may impact letting agents and inventory clerks working with both compliant and non-compliant landlords. The low collection rate of fines and inconsistent enforcement could affect standards and confidence in the sector.