Rogue landlords in Cornwall who flout rules on safety and affordability face tougher penalties after new rules came into force today (6 April 2017) – a move which has been welcomed by North Cornwall MP Scott Mann.
Announcing the measures, Housing Minister Gavin Barwell confirmed the powers will give local authorities such as Cornwall Council the tools to crack down on rogue landlords who shirk their responsibilities.
This comes as part of the government’s plan set out in its housing white paper to create a bigger and better private rental sector that meets the needs of tenants and landlords alike, giving those who rent a fairer deal.
Under the new rules, councils are now able to impose fines of up to £30,000 as an alternative to prosecution for a range of housing offences. They will be able to retain all of the income to make sure it is used for private sector housing enforcement purposes.
Rent repayment orders, which can be issued to penalise landlords managing or letting unlicensed properties, have also been extended to cover a wider range of situations. These include the illegal evictions or harassment of the occupiers of a property, using violence to secure entry and the breach of a banning order.
Scott Mann, MP for North Cornwall, said:
“This is very reassuring news for tenants who are affected by the irresponsible actions of rogue landlords. Everyone should expect to rent a property which meets a set of standards and to get what they pay for.
“I’m confident that the vast majority of landlords in Cornwall provide decent accommodation that meets minimum standards as well as providing the right support to their tenant. Unfortunately, however, there are some landlords who will cut corners to get as much money as possible while potentially endangering their tenants.
“These new powers, which include £30,000 fines, will help councils crack down on rogue landlords and ensure tenants are protected.”
Housing and Planning Minister Gavin Barwell said:
“These measures will give councils the additional powers they need to tackle poor-quality rental homes in their area.
“By driving out of business those rogue landlords that continue to flout the rules, we can raise standards, improve affordability and give tenants the protections they need.”
Further new measures introduced today include giving councils access to tenancy deposit protection data that help them identify rental properties in their area, and tackle the small minority of rogue landlords through targeted enforcement and prevention work.
Letting agents’ fees will also be banned to give renters greater clarity and control over what they will pay.
The recently published housing white paper set out measures to build the homes Britain needs now and to give those that rent a fairer deal, putting tackling the high cost of renting at the heart of its plan to fix the broken housing market.
Other intended measures in the housing white paper to help renters include:
- encouraging further growth through of the supply of rental properties by amending planning rules so councils can proactively plan for more long-term Build to Rent homes
- looking at allowing developers to offer more affordable rent alongside other forms of affordable housing
- working to ensure longer-term family friendly tenancies are available in the private rental sector, including working with the British Property Federation and National Housing Federation, to provide more stability for families who are currently renting