Councils fail to collect fines from rogue landlords, says NRLA – Mortgage Strategy

Councils are failing to collect fines issued to rogue and criminal landlords, according to data from the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA).

That is despite an increase in the number of property inspections conducted by local authorities.

The statistics, obtained under the Freedom of Information Act show that for councils across England, the number of inspections under the Housing, Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) increased from 85,326 in 2021/22 and 2022/23 to 91,620 between 2023/24 and 2024/25.

While the number of inspections has gone up, previously released data shows that councils across England are collecting just a quarter of the total number of fines issued to landlords for housing offences.

According to data collected by the NRLA and published earlier this year, between 2023/24 and 2024/25 of 285 English councils which responded, a total of almost £30 million in fines were issued to private landlords. However, only a quarter of that amount (almost £7.5 million) has actually been collected.

The findings come as the cross-party Housing Select Committee has recently warned that the Government needs to do more to hold councils to account for tackling the activities of the minority of rogue and criminal landlords undermining the reputation of the compliant majority.

Responding to the findings, Ben Beadle, chief executive of the NRLA, said: “While an increase in property inspections suggests more proactive enforcement, councils are failing to collect the money they should from those flouting their obligations.

“Under a system in which the polluter should be paying, it is those responsible landlords being clobbered with licensing and other fees who are having to cover the costs of rooting out the rogue and criminal minority. This is not sustainable and undermines the confidence of those landlords who we want to keep in the market.”