Croydon council has been criticized for taking only nine rogue landlords to court in the past five years, despite receiving a staggering 11,762 complaints from tenants. This data was collected by Public Interest Lawyers (PIL), who reached out to councils across London and found that many were not pursuing landlord prosecutions effectively.
Out of the 24 local authorities that responded to PIL’s requests for information, 16 stated that they had pursued fewer than ten landlord prosecutions since 2019. Croydon council topped the list with the highest number of complaints but completed only nine prosecutions, leaving many tenants feeling frustrated and neglected.
Jae Vail from the London Renters’ Union expressed concerns about the lack of action taken by local authorities in response to safety complaints from tenants. He highlighted the epidemic of hazardous housing in the country and emphasized the need for more proactive measures from councils to address these issues.
The data collected by PIL is part of a larger set that includes responses from councils across England and Wales. Shockingly, 115 out of the 252 councils that responded reported no prosecutions against rogue landlords from April 2019 to March 2024.
While some councils argue that civil penalties and warnings are sufficient to ensure landlord compliance, the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) revealed that less than half of the fines issued to rogue landlords between 2021 and 2023 were actually collected. This raises questions about the effectiveness of current enforcement measures in holding landlords accountable for their actions.
In response to these findings, organizations advocating for renters’ rights are pushing for legislative changes through the Renters’ Rights Bill. The Renters’ Reform Coalition, comprised of 20 leading organizations, is lobbying for amendments to legislation that would better protect tenants in the private rented sector.
Tom Darling, director of the Renters’ Reform Coalition, highlighted the underlying issue of resource constraints faced by councils in enforcing landlord regulations. He emphasized the importance of providing local authorities with the necessary funding and support to effectively implement the Renters’ Rights Bill and crack down on rogue landlords.
As discussions around renters’ rights continue, Croydon council has been called upon to address the concerns raised by PIL’s data. The lack of prosecutions against rogue landlords despite a high volume of complaints underscores the need for stronger enforcement measures and greater support for tenants facing unsafe living conditions.
