New research published by Shelter today reveals that rogue landlords are operating unchecked across the country, even after they have been reported to local authorities.
The report shows that local councils are dragging their feet when it comes to enforcement action.
The housing and homelessness charity used Freedom of Information procedures to ask every local authority in England 12 key questions about the scale of problems with rogue landlords and what each council is doing about it.
Out of 326 local authorities, all but four replied.
The results show that there are 1,477 landlords known to local authorities who are said to be repeatedly making tenants’ lives a misery.
Of particular worry, the responses show that complaints about serious and potentially life-threatening hazards, including dangerous gas and electrics, have risen by 25% over the past two years.
The research also shows that overall complaints to local authorities about private landlords have increased, taking them to 86,628 in the last year.
Yet despite the sharp increase in problems, just 270 successful prosecutions have been brought by local authorities against landlords during the same period.
Shelter is warning that unless councils urgently crack down on this small but highly dangerous minority, more tenants will be at risk.
Campbell Robb, Shelter’s chief executive, said: “The reality is that rogue landlords are out there and they’re getting away with it.
“Every day at Shelter we see the devastating impact rogue landlords have on people’s lives as they remain trapped in homes that cause misery and, in some cases, put lives at risk.
“What’s more, we believe there could be thousands more tenants who are suffering in silence, holding back from complaining out of fear of the consequences or because they don’t feel their voices will be heard.
“Local authorities have the powers to tackle rogue landlords but too many aren’t making the most of their armoury.
“They must follow the lead of those councils taking a zero tolerance approach to rogue landlords, and support tenants who are suffering by cracking down on the worst offenders in their area.”
Citizens Advice chief executive Gillian Guy said the Shelter report was deeply concerning. She said: “Good landlords respond effectively to reasonable requests from tenants around repairs, maintenance and health and safety issues.
“However, we still see tenants threatened with eviction from rogue landlords if they complain. We have long campaigned on this issue.
“Tenants need protection from retaliatory eviction and other forms of harassment. This timely report from Shelter shows that the problem has not gone away.”
As part of its Evict Rogue Landlords campaign, Shelter has set up Rogue Landlord Watch, an interactive map to help people avoid falling victim to rogue operators in their local area.
www.shelter.org.uk/evictroguelandlords
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Comments
Why don't Shelter simply advise these people to move? It's not rocket science. Why sit there and whinge?
Or is that too easy? Shelter would then have no reason to exist as nobody would then live in these places. Better to be awkward and leave them living in squalor than saying "hey, go somewhere better!" Perhaps it's because these places are dirt cheap and they may have to pay a proper rent for something decent!
Central government are proposing ever more legislation to raise standards in the private rental sector and creating ever more hoops for landlords to jump through. What use will this be when local authorities are not using the powers they already have against rogue landlords? Meanwhile many good landlords, especially those with only one property such as "accidental" landlords who have not managed to sell a property and older couples with a property to supplement their pension, are giving up due to the hassle of new regulation. Unless you specifically target the rogue landlords, and leave the good ones to do what they do well without interference you will never solve the problem of sub-standard accommodation.
...but then thinking about it...I will also include the ability for prospective tenants to check on a possible Landlord....Keeps the scales balanced!
Most of you have said it all...Shelter have their own agenda....but watch this space as I am working on an awareness process to educate landlords against rogue tenants...I will leave Shelter and the Liberal Green Squatters to advise against the rogue Landlords. (who I agree do exist...but I am not one of them!!)
The councils have the power to deal with these bad landlords. But this is not what is really going on the councils want more power to start charging the land lords yearly fees to be on the councils approved lists. From what I have been reading the Con Lib Governed have said that councils can setup their own registration service.
I was talking with a landlord a few weeks ago he had one that has not paid rent in the last six months. He did not know that he can get the rent paid directly after eight weeks if they are on income support housing benefits.
As for Shelter they have their own agenda
Yes When will "Shelter " publish a list of rogue tenants? I had a tenant earlier this year falling in arrears with rent . I was sympathetic lent a ear to the story's "brothers die-in losing job 14 yr Daugherty arrested and it when on and on But had to call time as I was out £1000 . She got "SHELTER" on to me to tell me I must give 12 notices OK but she was of in the 9th week after notices.I was left with £1700 rent arrears plus £2350 damage . The tenant offered £100pcm for 12mts plus i keep Dep ." Shelter told me it was a great deal If I was to take court action the court would award me £5pcm as she is on benefit now And I should be more caring "She has now vanished case closed as far as Shelter are concerned .So I had to lick my wounds and move on £4000 it was sore
Can someone work out how many rogue tenants there are? I have two that have not paid me any rent for the last five months and it is going to take, I am advised upto another two months for me to repossess my property. Altogether I am going to lose £9,000 of rent. I do not believe I have mistreated the tenants or not done any repair that they asked for. They do not respond to any of my polite letters, phone calls, or knocks on the door and I am advised despite all this I have to be careful not to carry out any action that could be construed to amount to an illegal eviction.
Will Shelter support landlords like me and help me deal with rogue tenants. It is time that Landlords groups set up a register of rogue tenants.
Let's put this story in its proper context shall we ... "Out of 326 local authorities ... the results show that there are 1,477 landlords known to local authorities who are said to be repeatedly making tenants’ lives a misery." Without even knowing the reasons behind this statement, we know that these 1,477 landlords represent approximately 0.1% of the landlords in the UK - hardly a widespread problem and definitely not something that will be stopped by new regulation, but instead by Local Authorities using the powers they already possess and have possesses for years. Let's try to get our Councils to stop hiding behind 'lack of regulation' as their excuse for not taking action against this incredibly small minority of rogue landlords.
There is a free landlord referencing website which warns of rouge tenants supprisingly called landlord referencing service. Email them at
enquiries@landlord referencing.co.uk or
www.landlordreferencing.co.uk
one of many usefull sites just like this one.
I'd agree with John, it's a shame there's not a rogue tenant list so we could share information before we get stung. Councils don't want to support landlords because they are doing what in many cases the Councils are not... housing difficult people. It's significantly easier to legislate against landlords when they (Councils) are not subject to the same legislation.
Pity Shelter don't list the numberr of Rogue tenants who don't or won't pay their rent to bona fide Landlords.
Shelter have an army of Legal people advising rogue tenants how to get out of paying their rent.!!!