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Banning Orders may be imposed on 'social media landlords'

A council is considering imposing Banning Orders on unregulated and ‘informal’ landlords who have no lettings background and who advertise on social media.

A report going to the leaders of Rotherham Council in Yorkshire states: “An increase in unregulated and /or unaccredited agents and landlords advertising rented properties through social media, without any appropriate letting background.

“A number of landlords have now, as a result of Selective Licensing, been found to be in breach of relevant legislation.

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“This policy [of imposing Banning Orders] will offer the council the means to take action against landlords and agents who have been convicted of certain offences, and who routinely offer poor housing, often to the poorest and most vulnerable in society.”

Relatively few banning orders have been successfully imposed by local councils, who have to make an application to the First-Tier Tribunal which will decide the application based on a number of factors.

If the Banning Order is approved and imposed, it takes some months to come into effect from which time the landlord will be banned from letting property, engaging in letting agency work, and engaging in property management work in England for any period from 12 months upwards. 

If the order is breached the penalties can include up to 51 weeks in prison or a fine, or both, or a civil financial penalty of up to £30,000.

Want to comment on this story? If so...if any post is considered to victimise, harass, degrade or intimidate an individual or group of individuals on any basis, then the post may be deleted and the individual immediately banned from posting in future.

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    I've seen tenants wanted adverts on Facebook normally wanting to avoid agents because they know that they wouldn't pass the agents checks, it would be very foolish of any landlord to take on these tenants

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    Another measure that won’t fix anything.

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    Surely there is a difference between unregulated / unaccredited landlords and those who flout the law? It's perfectly legal to rent a property as long as you follow the rules. No accreditation is required as an individual. Not sure about letting agents. I'm guessing more and more tenants are looking on social media, so surely it's up to landlords to decide whether this is a good way to find the right sort of tenants? Not something I would try mind you.

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    Is this not a bit of a ‘sales advertisement’ for the accreditation schemes that are pushed by the likes of NRLA and the like.

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