North West and North East councils letting rogue landlords off the hook
Rogue landlords across the North West (NW) and North East (NE) are being let off the hook. New data shows councils across the region have collected just 16 per cent in the NW and 13 per cent in the NE of the total fines levied on landlords issued with civil penalty notices.
Between 2023/24 and 2024/25, of the 34 councils across North West England that provided data, a total of just under £2.8 million in civil penalties were imposed on private landlords for housing offences. In spite of this, just 16 per cent of that amount (just under £450,000) was actually collected.
In the North East of England, a total of just over £2.2 million in civil penalties was imposed on private landlords for housing offences. However only 13 per cent of the fines levied (just below £290,000) were recovered.
Overall, 311 civil penalties were issued to landlords over the same period in the North West of England, and 361 in the North East.
11 local authorities across North West England and said they had not issued any civil penalties to landlords between 2023 and 2025, five local authorities across North East England.
With the Renters’ Rights Act due to come into force from 1st May, the data shows that councils are failing to collect the funds they desperately need to fund enforcement action in the market.
The Act will increase the maximum amount that can be levied in civil penalties from £7,000 to £40,000.
The NRLA is warning that without a major increase in upfront funding for council enforcement teams across the North West and North East, rogue and criminal landlords will continue to slip through the net. Aside from leaving tenants exposed to poor practice, it is undermining the reputation of the vast majority of landlords who meet their responsibilities and provide good quality homes.
Government data suggests that almost 610,000 households across the North West are in the private rented sector, and almost 190,000 households across the North East.
The NRLA is calling on the Government to:
• Champion better enforcement by establishing a new Chief Environmental Health Officer post which would have a national remit.
• Undertake a full assessment of the resources local authority enforcement teams currently have, and will need, to enforce the Renters’ Rights Act.
• Ensure greater transparency by requiring councils to publish an annual report on enforcement activity related to the private rented sector in their area.
Ben Beadle, Chief Executive of the National Residential Landlords Association, said:
“Tenants and the vast majority of responsible landlords across the North West and North East will rightly be fed up by our findings.
“For too long a minority of rogue and criminal operators have been allowed to act with impunity, bringing the sector into disrepute. It is galling then to see that those breaking the law are still failing to pay the price – leaving good landlords to pick up the tab in licensing fees.
“This also raises serious questions about how ready councils across the region are to enforce the Renters’ Rights Act, and about the adequacy of the upfront funding provided to them to support enforcement action.”
-ENDS-
Notes:
• The NRLA sent Freedom of Information requests to all local authorities in England responsible for enforcement in the private rented sector to establish:
- The total amount of income they have levied in civil penalties relating to housing offences committed by private landlords in 2023/24 and 2024/25.
- The total amount of income collected in civil penalties relating to housing offences to private landlords per year in 2023/24 and 2024/25.
In total, 34 councils across the NW and 11 councils across the NE of England responded.
The data shows that in the NW of England, a total of £ 2,793,162 of civil penalties were levied on private landlords for housing offences, but only £445,478.20 was collected. This means that 15.9% (round to 16%) of all civil penalties levied on landlords were actually collected by councils.
Also, the data shows that in the NE of England, in 2023/24 and 2024/25 combined, a total of £2,225,503 of civil penalties were levied on private landlords for housing offences, but only £289,615.10 was collected. This means that 13% of all civil penalties levied on landlords were actually collected by councils.
Overall, during this period, a total of 311 civil penalties were issued by local authorities across the North West, and 361 civil penalties were issued by local authorities across the North East for an array of offences connected to the private rented sector.
12 councils said they had not issued any civil penalties to landlords. They were:
- Westmorland and Furness (formally Eden District Council, South Lakeland DC, Barrow BC and Cumbria County Council)
- Bolton Council
- Cheshire West and Chester Council
- Chorley Council
- Fylde Borough Council
- Halton Borough Council
- Knowsley Council
- Ribble Valley Borough Council
- South Ribble Borough Council
- St Helens Council
- Tameside Metropolitan Council
- West Lancashire Borough Council
Five councils in the NE said they had not issued any civil penalties to landlords. They were:
- North Tyneside Council
- Northumberland County Council
- Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council
- South Tyneside Council
- Hartlepool Borough Council
• According to the Government’s English Housing Survey for 2024/25, 187,000 (15.1%) of households in the North East are in the private rented sector. See annex table 1.2 here.
• According to the Government’s English Housing Survey for 2024/25, 609,000 (18.2%) of households in the North West are in the private rented sector. See annex table 1.2 here.
• The Government has said that councils in England will receive £18.2 million in 2025/26 to support preparations for the implementation of the Renters’ Rights Act and to build enforcement capacity.
• Further information about the NRLA can be found at www.nrla.org.uk. It posts on X @NRLAssociation.
• The NRLA’s press office can be contacted by emailing [email protected] or by calling 0300 131 6363.