Letting agents and landlords in London hit with £10m+ in fines
Fines for estate agents for non-compliance with licensing have skyrocketed in London as several boroughs have launched new schemes.
Fines for rogue estate agents and landlords in London have surged past the £10 million mark, latest analysis from Kamma reveals.
The £10 million in fines follows Kamma’s projections in its latest report that 2024 is on track to beat 2023’s record of 32 new licensing schemes introduced.
NEW MEASURES
With 19 schemes and consultations launched as of April, the amount of new measures introduced so far this year is 30% ahead of this time in 2023.
Nearly a third of all new schemes launched this year have been targeting London boroughs. Among the boroughs stepping up their efforts this month are Brent, Tower Hamlets and Redbridge – each introducing additional or selective measures to combat rogue practices within the rental market.
Already Tower Hamlets has disclosed over £1.2 million in financial penalties and rent repayment orders linked to unlicensed properties while Redbridge Council has also revealed the results of its enforcement efforts with 3,000 notices served and 76 prosecutions directly from their previous scheme.
Meanwhile, Camden continues to lead in enforcement actions as the borough with the highest fines, recently announcing a hefty £350,000 penalty against an agency for failing to comply with a planning enforcement notice.
ROGUE LANDLORDS
Kamma tracks fine updates through the Mayor of London’s rogue landlord’s database to determine total fines in the city since 2017.
Orla Shields, Kamma Chief Executive, says: “The surge in fines and licensing measures across London are clear indicators of the growing seriousness with which regulatory compliance is being treated.
“This year’s record-breaking figures represent a strong stance against non-compliance for agents and landlords in London.”