Local authorities are collecting only a fraction of the fines issued to landlords for housing offences, according to new data obtained through Freedom of Information requests.
Research by the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) shows that councils in England imposed almost £30m in civil penalties on private landlords between 2023/24 and 2024/25. However, just £7.5m – around a quarter of the total – was actually recovered.
During the same period, councils issued nearly 3,700 civil penalties to landlords for breaches of housing regulations.
The findings come ahead of the introduction of the Renters’ Rights Act, which is expected to take effect on 1 May and will increase the maximum civil penalty from £7,000 to £40,000.
The NRLA said the figures highlight the need for greater funding for local authority enforcement teams, warning that without stronger resources rogue landlords will continue to evade penalties.
The NRLA is also urging the government to introduce further measures aimed at strengthening enforcement in the private rented sector.
These include the creation of a national chief environmental health officer role to help coordinate and promote stronger enforcement standards across the country.
The organisation is also calling for a full assessment of the resources available to local authority enforcement teams, particularly in light of the additional responsibilities expected under the Renters’ Rights Act.
In addition, the NRLA wants councils to be required to publish annual reports outlining their enforcement activity in the private rented sector to improve transparency and accountability.
Ben Beadle, chief executive of the NRLA, said: “Tenants and the vast majority of responsible landlords will rightly be fed up with our findings.
“For too long a minority of rogue and criminal operators have allowed to act with impunity, bringing the sector into disrepute. It is galling then to see that those breaking the law are still failing to pay the price – leaving good landlords to pick up the tab in licensing fees.
“This also raises serious questions about how ready councils are to enforce the Renters’ Rights Act, and about the adequacy of the upfront funding provided to them to support enforcement action.”