London councils have collected just over one-third (34.2%) of the total fines issued to landlords as the NRLA claims that rogue operators are being let “off the hook”.
Between 2023/24 and 2024/25, of the 32 councils in London that provided data, a total of almost £8.7m in civil penalties were imposed on private landlords for housing offences.
However, only one-third of that amount (just under £3m) was actually collected.
Five local authorities in London (the City of London Corporation, Bexley, Bromley, Croydon and Hammersmith & Fulham) said they had not issued any civil penalties to landlords between 2023 and 2025.
The research, based on Freedom of Information requests sent to all English councils responsible for enforcement in the private rented sector, was undertaken by the NRLA.
With the Renters’ Rights Act due to come into force from 1st May, the association said the data showed that councils are failing to collect the funds needed to fund enforcement action in the market.
The NRLA has warned that without a major increase in upfront funding for council enforcement teams across London, rogue and criminal landlords will continue to slip through the net.
• champion better enforcement by establishing a new chief environmental health officer post which would have a national remit
• undertake a full assessment of the resources local authority enforcement teams currently have, and will need, to enforce the Renters’ Rights Act
• ensure greater transparency by requiring councils to publish an annual report on enforcement activity related to the private rented sector in their area
Ben Beadle, chief executive at the NRLA, commented: “Tenants and the vast majority of responsible landlords across London will rightly be fed up with our findings.
“For too long a minority of rogue and criminal operators have been allowed to act with impunity, bringing the sector into disrepute.
“It is galling then to see that those breaking the law are still failing to pay the price — leaving good landlords to pick up the tab in licensing fees.
“This also raises serious questions about how ready councils across the capital are to enforce the Renters’ Rights Act, and about the adequacy of the upfront funding provided to them to support enforcement action.”
