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A council has revealed it’s been finding local letting agencies and landlords an average of £14,000 per breach of local or national rental regulations and laws.

Hounslow, which itself was criticised over its property management failings by the social housing ombudsman, has issued fines totalling £180,000 to property managers across its suburban borough.

The council (main image) says the fines have been issued after its enforcement and inspection team discovered illegal rentals or poor property conditions, and that the huge fines are part of its ongoing efforts to more heavily regulate its local private rental market.

Hounslow’s aim is to ensure landlords comply with health and safety regulations, licensing requirements, and the correct tenancy agreements.

Standing firmly

“We stand firmly with tenants and communities, supporting people’s right to live in a secure, well-maintained homes,” says Councillor Tom Bruce, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Assets, Regeneration and Development at Hounslow Council.

“Most landlords provide safe and decent housing, but we will not tolerate those who exploit renters or neglect their responsibilities. Where landlords fail in their duty of care, we will act decisively, issuing the strongest penalties available whenever possible.”

Hounslow is also urging private tenants to report any suspicious landlord activity or substandard housing conditions to the council to help ‘ensure safer and fairer rental experiences across Hounslow’.

The borough is a significant landlord itself with some 16,000 properties under management, and was one of six landlords criticised recently by the Housing Ombudsman in his latest report, for ‘severe maladministration’.

Read more about the borough’s crackdown.