Birmingham City Council has issued £450,000 in fines for landlords without a licence to operate in the city, or who have broken its rules.
In June 2023, the council launched a comprehensive licensing scheme to improve the quality and safety of rental homes in the city.
Around 40,000 landlords have since been licensed under the scheme with the council carrying out over 12,000 inspections in that time.
Landlords in breach of this framework can be fined up to £30,000 and have to pay back rent to tenants.
Tenants can get back up to 12 months’ rent from landlords as a result, and this is set to double to 24 months when the Renters Rights Bill.
The framework also protects tenants from no-fault evictions.
Councillor Nicky Brennan, council cabinet member for housing and homelessness, explained that the licensing scheme had since helped improve standards in properties — from fixing leaky roofs and mouldy rooms, to installing smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms.
“By enforcing stricter regulations, the council is creating a safer and more secure rental market for all residents,” added Nicky.
