Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to penalise and expose rogue landlords; and what progress has been made on the register of such landlords since the Housing and Planning Act 2016 came into force.

Local authorities have a range of enforcement powers to protect tenants from landlords that do not fulfil their legal obligations. The Housing Act 2004 gives powers to local authorities to regulate and enforce standards in the private rented sector. The Housing and Planning Act 2016 further introduced civil penalties of up to £30,000 and banning orders for use against the worst and most persistent offenders. Legislation also extended rent repayment orders which require a landlord to repay rent when they have not complied with the law.

In April 2018, using powers under the Housing and Planning Act 2016, we also introduced a national database of rogue landlords and property agents. Where a landlord has received a banning order the local authority must place them on the database. Where the landlord has received a conviction for a banning order offence or two or more civil penalties for housing related offences then the local authority has discretion to make an entry.

As set out in the Queen’s Speech, the Government has committed to bringing in a Better Deal for Renters to deliver a fairer and more effective rental market that works for both tenants and landlords. This includes bringing forward reforms to drive improvements in standards in rented accommodation, ensuring well targeted, effective enforcement that drives out criminal landlords.