LGA call for bigger fines for landlords

The Local Government Association (LGA) have called for magistrates to increase fines for 'rogue landlords', arguing most fines handed out are to small to deter those landlords from exploiting tenants.

The LGA have condemned the legal process for taking landlords to court as frustrating and overly complicated, and has compiled a folder of cases to represent examples of where landlords had got away with a "slap on the wrist" after renting out 'hell holes'.

The Government response had been the announcement that it will legislating for a fourfold increase in the maximum fines available to magistrates.

Mike Jones, who chairs its environment and housing board, said:

"Councils are doing everything they can to tackle the rising levels of rogue landlords caused by the housing crisis. However, they are being hamstrung by a system racked by delays, bureaucracy and feeble fines.

"We need a new streamlined system which is much fairer, faster, more efficient and treats the criminal abuse of tenants seriously. Prosecution in its current state simply is not seen as an effective deterrent by rogue operators."

Read more comment on increasing fines for landlords in the Independent