The Green Party mayor of Hackney in London has launched a crackdown on rogue landlords.
She says her council is now operating a zero tolerance regime on landlords who exploit tenants and leave residents in substandard, unsafe and often dangerous living conditions.
Zoe Garbutt says: “Landlords are putting profit before people. Too many renters pay eye watering sums, only to live in unsafe homes.
“This has got to stop. From this month, we’re ramping up our inspections and seeking the biggest fines and strongest possible penalties for the worst private landlords in Hackney.
“It’s time our justice system was made to work for us.
‘The worst landlords are also exploiting the benefits system – with billions transferred directly from the government to private landlords forcing renters into terrible conditions.
“The work starts now to ensure that every resident in Hackney has a right to a safe, decent home; we will not accept anything less.’’
The council boasts that it’s kicked off this new enforcement drive by fining a single landlord £30,000 for failing to address fire safety concerns.
And it adds that through a combination of the Renters Rights Act (RRA) and its new landlord licensing scheme, the council is intensifying its effort to penalise rogue landlords.
And it claims to have set up a new, beefed up enforcement team of more than 50 officers to investigate and take action against substandard conditions.
This article is taken from Landlord Today