Millions in fines imposed on rogue landlords for housing offences remain unpaid, despite a surge in inspections across England. New data reveals a stark contrast between penalties issued and those collected, with councils struggling to recover nearly three-quarters of the £30 million in fines handed out over two years.
The number of inspections under the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) has risen from 85,326 during 2021/22-2022/23 to 91,620 across 2023/24-2024/25, indicating a more proactive approach to identifying substandard housing conditions. However, despite this heightened enforcement activity, councils are reportedly collecting only about a quarter of the financial penalties they impose.
Specifically, 285 English councils issued fines totalling almost £30 million between 2023/24 and 2024/25. Yet, during the same period, only approximately £7.5 million of these fines were successfully recovered, leaving millions in unpaid fines.
The issue has caught the attention of Westminster, with the cross-party Housing Select Committee previously calling for stronger oversight of local authority enforcement against rogue landlords. The committee backed the NRLA's proposal for councils to publish annual reports detailing their enforcement activities within the private rented sector.
Ben Beadle, chief executive of the NRLA, warned that the failure to collect fines means compliant landlords are effectively subsidising the costs of tackling non-compliant ones, undermining confidence in responsible landlords. He urged greater accountability and transparency from local authorities.