With £10 million in licensing fines since Kamma began tracking the Mayor of London’s Rogue Landlord Database in 2018, penalties continue to rise sharply. Recent data highlighted in the firm's latest report indicates that councils are adopting more sophisticated strategies to clamp down on rogue landlords and agents.
Oxford Council’s recent outreach campaign serves as a prime example. By targeting tenants to raise awareness of licensing regulations, the council provided the tools to students residing in unlicensed accommodation to receive a landmark £85,000 payout in compensation.
Similarly, Wolverhampton Council’s decision to spend £2.5m on outsourcing their enforcement to private contractors demonstrates that some councils are employing new creative strategies.
The Renters’ Rights Bill also promises to extend fine-tracking nationwide, painting a more comprehensive picture of landlord compliance across the country. If passed, the Bill is slated to increase the duration of rent repayment orders from 12 months to 24 months, doubling the financial risk for landlords who fail to comply with local licensing regimes.
The new report from Kamma provides an in-depth analysis of these enforcement trends, revealing that the most effective councils inspect upwards of 8,000 properties over the course of a licensing scheme.
Chris Morgan, (pictured) COO of Kamma, commented: “The steep rise in fines and the introduction of new licensing schemes are clear signals that many councils are replacing box-ticking compliance with an aggressive multi-route approach.
"This year alone, proactive councils have stepped up their efforts to identify and sanction unlicensed properties. As our latest report shows, top-performing councils are inspecting thousands of properties as part of their licensing regimes, setting a high standard for enforcement.”
