Landlords are being hit with record fines as growing numbers of local councils launch licensing schemes. 

PropTech firm Kamma, which monitors council regimes, says 52 schemes and consultations were launched in 2022. 

This is five more than the previous year, and almost 10 more than in 2020, highlighting what Kamma calls “the growing trend of yet more regulation targeting the Private Rented Sector”.

Enforcement is also on the rise.

Fines handed out to rogue landlords and letting agents averaged £90,000 per month in 2022. 

Over 12 per cent of all fines in London were handed out in the last 12 months. 

August topped the chart as the most active month for fine activity. Fines totalling over £238,000 were handed out in that month alone.

Average fines specifically for letting agents have also increased to £4,695, an increase of over £200 on 2021. 

Some 78 per cent of all agent and landlord fines are related to management and licensing of houses and HMOs, which can be linked to the increase in both schemes and enforcement across London.  

Camden council has continued to top the enforcement list in terms of number of cases brought forward, followed closely by Newham and Waltham Forest. 

Yet the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham is now the London borough with the highest average fines of £19,800, followed by Hillingdon with an average of £13,500, and Hackney with £11,250.

Kamma chief executive Orla Shields says: “2022 has been another record year for licensing and fines handed out, with total fines now exceeding £8.1m in London alone. 

“At the same time, average agent fines have increased by over £200 just in the last year, with the upward trend continuing into 2023.”