The UK government has faced criticism over its latest move to target small landlords, with councils set to gain the power to impose on-the-spot fines of up to £7,000 for alleged housing breaches. The revised Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) gives local authorities the ability to act as investigator, prosecutor, judge and jury in determining what constitutes a 'serious hazard'.
The overhaul has been hailed as a way to protect tenants, but small landlords argue it will lead to their financial ruin. They claim the system is unfair, as councils will be exempt from the same standards and will target them rather than 'genuinely criminal slumlords' who operate sub-standard properties.
The new powers will apply to all small landlords in England, with the government claiming they will target those who ignore housing law. However, critics argue the move is a cynical revenue-raising exercise disguised as tenant protection.
The government has been trying to reduce the number of private landlords in the UK through a series of tax changes and reforms, including the abolition of Section 21. The £7,000 fines could be the final nail in the coffin for many small landlords, who are already struggling to stay afloat.
The opposition has condemned the move, with Labour's Shadow Housing Secretary, Steve Reed, claiming it will 'punish' law-abiding landlords rather than targeting those who are truly at fault. The government has been urged to reconsider the changes, but it remains to be seen whether they will listen to the concerns of small landlords and their representatives.