Housing Solicitors

Croydon Council is adopting new powers against rogue landlords from Monday 8 May, which could see landlords who breach housing law facing banning orders, maximum £30,000 fines and even prison.

The council already has a licensing scheme to raise housing standards in the borough and tackle rogue landlords – but has now adopted powers to further protect private tenants in poor quality rented properties and reduce the need for costly prosecutions.

From 8 May, new powers will be available under the 2016 Housing and Planning Act, allowing Croydon Council to fine landlords up to £30,000 as an alternative to prosecution.

Councils will be able to obtain a court order, so the worst offenders pay back up to a year’s rent – and can fine landlords up to £5,000 for breaking fire safety regulations.

From October, these powers will extend to include banning orders, so prosecuted offenders cannot be landlords again – and it will be possible to recoup up to £25,000 in rent from landlords breaking a banning order. A prison sentence of up to 51 weeks may also apply to landlords breaking a banning order.

Council officers will also be able to issue £30,000 fines and apply to Magistrates for rent repayment orders.

Once approved, the new powers will cover private properties in Croydon rented by a single person or family – and shared flats or houses, known as homes in multiple occupation (HMO).

The council’s selective licensing scheme, introduced in October 2015, already has the power to fine or prosecute landlords who either run unlicensed private properties – or break their licence conditions by renting out dangerous or poor-quality housing.

Croydon Council says most cases are resolved without the need for prosecution because landlords follow improvement notices, bringing faster results.

Landlords at risk of fines, prosecution or banning orders include those breaking the conditions of their Croydon Council selective licence or HMO licence, those running overcrowded properties – or those who do not comply with an improvement notice.

Croydon Council’s deputy leader and Cabinet Member for homes, regeneration and planning, Councillor Alison Butler, said:

“Croydon Council’s landlord licensing scheme is already driving up housing standards in the borough – and these changes will give us even more powers to tackle rogue landlords.

“We’ll continue to prosecute bad landlords where necessary, but these new powers offer us wider enforcement options that protect tenants faster and reduce the cost to Croydon taxpayers.”

Duncan Lewis Housing Solicitors

Duncan Lewis housing solicitors can advise on a wide range of housing law, including advising developers and self builders on planning permissions and planning appeals.

There are Duncan Lewis offices across England and Wales and our housing team is also able to advise on: