Lewisham Council has launched a new taskforce targeting rogue landlords, but the more significant development for the private rented sector may be how the council plans to find them. The new Rogue Landlords Taskforce will use council data, local intelligence and targeted inspections to identify properties where there are concerns about licensing, compliance or housing conditions. That represents a shift towards more proactive enforcement, with the council looking to identify potential problems rather than relying solely on tenants or members of the public to report them.

Enforcement is already increasing

The taskforce comes as enforcement activity in the borough is already rising. Lewisham has issued 153 enforcement notices so far this financial year, compared with 155 during the whole of the previous year. Financial penalties have also increased sharply, with £160,875 issued since April – more than double the amount imposed during the previous 12 months. The council says changes to legislation have enabled it to impose larger fines, with penalties of up to £40,000 available in some circumstances. It expects the new taskforce to increase enforcement activity further.

What will the council be looking for?

The taskforce will focus on areas where intelligence suggests there is a greater likelihood of non-compliance, including properties suspected of operating without the required licence and areas with a history of enforcement action. It will also look at wider problems that may be linked to privately rented properties, including poor waste management, fly-tipping and fire safety concerns. Depending on the circumstances and evidence, enforcement could result in civil penalties, statutory notices or prosecution. The council says decisions will be made on a case-by-case basis.

What does it mean for landlords?

The immediate message for landlords is to make sure the basics are right. Is the property correctly licensed? Are licence conditions being met? Are safety requirements up to date? Are repairs dealt with promptly? And is there a clear record of action taken when problems are reported? Those questions become more important when enforcement is intelligence-led. A landlord might reasonably assume that, if no tenant has complained, there is little reason for the council to investigate their property. Lewisham’s new approach suggests that assumption is becoming less reliable. The council already has access to information through its licensing and enforcement work, and the new taskforce will bring that intelligence together to target properties and areas where concerns have emerged.

Good landlords are not the target

Lewisham has stressed that the taskforce is aimed at landlords who fail to meet their legal responsibilities, rather than those who are already operating properly. Councillor Natalie Thomas, Cabinet Member for Safer Homes, Homelessness and Housing Services, says the council wants landlords to improve standards before enforcement action becomes necessary. The council adds that money raised through financial penalties will also be ringfenced for further private rented sector enforcement. With privately rented homes accounting for about 29% of Lewisham’s housing stock, the approach could affect a significant number of landlords.

The bigger question is whether other councils will follow the same path. As local authorities face pressure to improve housing standards and make better use of the data they already hold, proactive PRS enforcement could become increasingly common.

The absence of a tenant complaint does not necessarily mean the council is not looking – so landlords should make sure there is nothing for it to find.

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