Due to a number of funding boosts over the recent years, councils are now better equipped to tackle the enforcement of lettings legislation in 2020, says PayProp UK
Councils are better equipped to tackle the enforcement of lettings legislation in 2020 due to a number of funding boosts over the recent years, says Neil Cobbold, chief operating officer of PayProp UK.
An additional £4m in funding has been earmarked for 100 councils, which will be used to train over 100 enforcement officers across Yorkshire and Humberside and create a special operations unit in Northampton to combat rogue landlords and letting agencies. The funding will also be used to help vulnerable young tenants in Thurrock, Essex and to trial new technology identifying particularly cold homes in Greenwich.
Cobbold said that the standout measure here is the money being used to train over 100 new enforcement officers in the North of England.
He said that one of the biggest issues in the rental sector in recent years is the lack of enforcement of a rising number of regulations aimed at improving industry standards. More enforcement officers across the country would significantly help to increase compliance, meeting the government’s goal of raising standards and discouraging rogue operators.
Over the past 12 months, the government has committed to providing over £10m in local authority funding to combat criminal landlords and agencies.
Apart from the £4m boost, almost £2.4m was provided to 50 local councils in January, while a further £3.8m was issued in November last year.
Cobbold added that industry insiders have often criticised the government for not providing enough funding for enforcement, but an increased amount has been pledged in the past 12 months. If used properly this funding could benefit letting agencies by ridding the industry of those intent on breaking the law and helping to improve its reputation with the public.
He suggested that if the additional government funding is used to enforce legislation more effectively, there could be a rise in the number of penalties issued this year.
As part of the penalty options banning orders were introduced in April 2018, but it took until September 2019 for the first one to be issued with only a few more handed out since.
Introduced as part of the Housing and Planning Act 2016 and alongside the database of rogue landlords and property agents, banning orders are ordered by a First-Tier Tribunal and follow local housing authority application.
Receiving a banning order is a criminal offence and prohibits landlords or agents from letting housing in England and engaging in English letting agency or property management work.
Cobbold said that banning orders are only reserved for the very worst offenders.
A number of penalty options may be used, but local authorities that do increase enforcement will show that they are serious about raising industry standards. With further legislation changes expected throughout this year, it’s important that the authorities do everything they can with the additional funding to ensure widespread compliance.
