Rogue landlords have little to fear from cash-strapped councils
This article demonstrates how difficult it is in the current climate to tackle the actions of rogue landlords in the public interest. It tells us:
There are two ways to deal with rogue landlords: either licence all landlords (as is being done in Scotland and Wales) or simply target the rogue landlords, which is what this impending housing bill proposes.
David Cameron is right that his government is going further than previous governments in dealing with rogue landlords. But these new plans presuppose that local authorities have a well-funded crew of trained people able to use this legislation to tackle rogue landlords – but most don’t.
The recent swingeing council budget cuts of April 2015 have led to many enforcement posts being deleted and people doubling up on duties they have no previous experience of. Without enough staff to enforce these standards rogue landlords will continue to operate beyond the resources of councils.
Work in Lincolnshire, for example on former RAF bases has demonstrated that the issue of rogue landlords is not just a city problem.