Legal News

The Department for Communities and Local Government has awarded Peterborough Council £112,500 in funding to tackle rogue landlords.

The funding is part of a £5 million project to tackle irresponsible landlords who provide unsafe living conditions, exploit tenants and harm communities.

The money will enable council officers to visit a large proportion of the homes in areas that are known to have high numbers of rental properties – officers will talk to tenants and take steps to address any valid concerns.

The visits will take place in the evenings and at weekends, when more residents are at home.

The funds will also be used to establish a new training programme for landlords, to bring them up-to-date with the latest housing legislation –
and promote best practice in the private rented sector.

The council aims to train up to one hundred landlords by the end of March.

Investment will also be made to drive enforcement, serving notices on landlords who fall short of standards, as well as driving prosecutions for repeat offenders.

Peterborough Council’s Cabinet Member for growth, planning, housing and economic development, Councillor Peter Hiller, said:

“This is an excellent achievement by our housing team – we are determined to deliver major improvements in the areas where unscrupulous landlords are operating.

”Talking to those who live in the areas is an important step in understanding the issues and pursuing those landlords that are not acting in their tenants' best interests.”

The council has just completed a consultation on a proposed Selective Licensing scheme, which, if approved, would mean landlords would have to buy a licence to rent out their property in certain areas of the city.

The council says this would offer a better view of rented homes in the area and flag up opportunities for enforcement.

The council has also recently announced plans to create a joint enforcement team in the city, which will be launched in April.

From Monday 1 February, all landlords in the private sector will have a legal duty to check prospective tenants’ right to live in the UK, by checking identity documents such as passports or visas.


Right to rent was introduced in the Immigration Act 2014 and penalties of up to £3,000 will apply.

Duncan Lewis Housing Solicitors

Duncan Lewis housing solicitors can advise on a wide range of housing law, including advising on homelessness and council’s obligation to re-house.

There are Duncan Lewis offices across the UK and our housing team are also able to advise on:

• Conveyancing services
• Debt management for homeowners
• Disrepair of rented property
• Housing Benefit
• Housing possession
• Landlords’ obligations
• Landlord and tenant disputes
• Lease extensions
• Local Authority housing
• Mortgage repossession
• Notice to quit
• Nuisance neighbours
• Right to Buy
• Right to Rent checks
• Tenancy agreements
• Unlawful eviction.

For expert legal advice on housing law, call Duncan Lewis housing solicitors on 0333 772 0409.