DCLG issues guide for housing officers on tackling bad practice in private rented sector

The guide, which can be viewed here, covers:

• Tackling bad practice;
• Developing knowledge of the extent and scale of private rented stock in the area;
• Bad landlords and letting agents;
• Tackling criminal landlord behaviour;
• Prosecution of illegal landlords;
• Post court action and deterring bad landlords;
• Contact details;
• Further information;
• Annex A - local authority powers;
• Annex B - powers of other agencies;
• Annex C - letting agents redress scheme guidance;
• Annex D - guidance on letting agent fees.

Writing in the foreword, Housing Minister Brandon Lewis said: “Whilst the majority of landlords are diligent and responsible, there are a small minority of landlords who ignore their obligations and knowingly rent out unsafe and overcrowded accommodation.

“These criminal landlords are exploiting vulnerable tenants, who just want a safe place to call home. In extreme cases, criminal landlords have links to organised crime, gangmaster activity and human trafficking. This cannot continue unchecked, as these activities undermine the work of good landlords and harm the sector’s reputation.”

The minister said approaches to tackling criminal landlords could be varied.

“This Government wants to create an environment that roots out and removes criminal landlords, allows good landlords to thrive and provides peace of mind for tenants seeking a place called home,” he added.

The guidance, Improving the private rented sector and tackling bad practice: a guide for local authorities, updates and replaces the 2012 version, Dealing with Rogue Landlords: a guide for local authorities.

The Department for Communities and Local Government has also published a guide for tenants on what to look out for when renting a home, and announced measures requiring landlords to install working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms in their properties.