Rogue landlords should face stronger sentencing tougher license conditions and potential blacklisting says LGA
Councils need greater powers to tackle rogue landlords taking advantage of residents struggling to find decent housing in the private rented sector. All too often landlords found ripping off their tenants have not been flagged by pre-licence tests and have shrugged off paltry fines when councils have taken them to court. In response to a government consultation, the Local Government Association, which represents more than 370 councils in England and Wales, has called for tougher sentencing guidelines for magistrates and a wider range of penalties so that the small minority of rogue landlords who exploit their tenants are properly held to account for renting out sub-standard accommodation. Councils are also calling for support to make robust decisions around what constitutes a "fit and proper person" to hold a landlord licence and have broadly supported the idea of a blacklist of persistent rogue landlords. However they have asked that government clarify how a b...