Councils will be required to add details of landlords subject to banning orders
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (HCLG) has set up a database of ‘rogue landlords’ to be shared with local authorities.
Along with the use of new banning orders, it is aimed at forcing landlords who rent substandard properties out of the sector.
Landlords convicted of a range of housing, immigration and other criminal offences such as leasing overcrowded properties, fire and gas safety offences and unlawful eviction, will be included on the database, so councils can share information between themselves and keep a closer eye on those with a poor track record.
HCLG said it will publish regular updates on the number of landlords and agents who have been banned, convicted of a banning order offence or received two or more civil penalties, broken down by local authority area.
These measures follow the announcement that councils are also being given new powers to tackle landlords who rent out overcrowded properties, with the ability to impose fines of up to £30,000 for those who do not comply with the regulations.
Convicted landlords could be given banning orders preventing them from leasing accommodation for a period of time, ranging from 12 months to life. Councils must record details of any landlord or property agent given a banning order on the database.
Crackdown
Minister for Housing and Homelessness Heather Wheeler said: “I am committed to making sure people who are renting are living in safe and good quality properties. That’s why we’re cracking down on the small minority of landlords that are renting out unsafe and substandard accommodation.”
The private rented sector houses 4.7 million households in England and the Government is delivering these reforms under the Housing and Planning Act 2016.
