Government announces crackdown on rogue landlords with raft of measures to help tenants
2 min read
Rogue landlords face being banned from the private rented sector as part of a raft of measures announced by the Government aimed at helping tenants.
Housing minister Alok Sharma said he was putting landlords "on notice" that they must meet minimum standards or face the consequences.
Under the changes, anyone renting out properties to five or more people in future will need to be licensed.
From April next year, someone convicted of offences such as burglary and stalking will be added to a database of rogue landlords and barred from renting properties.
New rules will also come into force setting minimum size requirements for bedrooms in houses of multiple occupation to prevent overcrowding.
Any landlords flouting the new rules could be hit with fines of up to £30,000.
Mr Sharma said: “Every tenant has a right to a safe, secure and decent home. But some are being exploited by unscrupulous landlords who profit from providing overcrowded, squalid and sometimes dangerous homes.
“Enough is enough and so I’m putting these rogue landlords on notice - shape up or ship out of the rental business.
“Through a raft of new powers we are giving councils the further tools they need to crack down on these rogue landlords and kick them out of the business for good."
Meanwhile, Labour leader Jedremy Corbyn has announced that his party's next manifesto will ban so-called "no fault" evictions, where tenants are kicked out of their property on a whim.
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