Landlord group urges councils to better tackle rogue landlords
Complaints made against landlords in the UK have reached unprecedented levels, nearly doubling over the past 10 years, according to newly released data. This increase comes as significant legislative changes are set to reshape the rental landscape.
Freedom of Information requests submitted to local authorities reveal that the average number of complaints from both private and social tenants per council rose to 1,200 in 2024, up from 1,150 the previous year. A decade ago, the figure stood at fewer than 700.
London has seen the sharpest rise, with complaints concerning landlords and letting agents climbing 173% over five years to 2,331 in 2024, based on figures from the Greater London Authority.
Despite this, the number of private and social renters in the UK has grown by only around 5% over the same period, according to the English Housing Survey.
The Renters’ Rights Act, which recently became law, introduces stricter obligations for landlords to address poor housing conditions and resolve serious issues, a move intended to reduce the presence of non-compliant landlords. The legislation was introduced in response to concerns over landlords failing to maintain properties, raising rents following maintenance complaints, or evicting tenants at short notice.
Ben Beadle (pictured right), chief executive of the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA), has warned that reforms to the private rented sector will be ineffective unless there is a robust strategy to strengthen enforcement against rogue and criminal landlords.
“For too long, the vast majority of decent, responsible landlords have been tarnished by the actions of a minority of rogue operators failing to provide good enough housing,” Beadle said.
“If planned reforms are to work, councils need to up their game at finding and rooting out those who have no place renting property out and making it easier for the law-abiding majority providing decent and safe homes. Without further action, the only winners from all this will be the minority of unscrupulous landlords.”
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