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

Councils Failing to Collect Most Fines from Rogue Landlords

Research from the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) indicates that councils in England are collecting only a quarter of the fines issued to rogue and criminal landlords. This comes despite an increase in property inspections by local authorities.

Data obtained by the NRLA under the Freedom of Information Act shows that the number of inspections under the Housing, Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) rose from 85,326 in 2021/22 and 2022/23 to 91,620 between 2023/24 and 2024/25. However, previously released figures reveal that councils are only collecting a fraction of the fines they issue for housing offences.

Between 2023/24 and 2024/25, nearly £30 million in fines were issued to private landlords by 285 English councils. Of this, only about £7.5 million has actually been collected.

The NRLA has highlighted concerns that responsible landlords are bearing the costs of enforcement through licensing and other fees, while the majority of fines from rogue landlords remain uncollected. The association has called for councils to publish annual reports detailing the money received from licensing and enforcement schemes, and how these funds are used to improve enforcement.

The findings coincide with a recent warning from the cross-party Housing Select Committee, which stated that the Government needs to do more to hold councils accountable for tackling rogue and criminal landlords. The Committee also supported the NRLA’s call for greater transparency through annual reporting on enforcement activity in the private rented sector.

These developments are particularly relevant for letting agents and inventory clerks, as they highlight ongoing challenges in enforcement and the financial pressures placed on compliant landlords within the UK rental market.