Barnet Council has started targeting unlawful HMOs in a series of evening raids in the London borough as part of a broader escalation in local PRS enforcement across England.

Housing officers recently visited 76 properties during the first evening’s enforcement operations, with 22 properties now subject to legal investigations for suspected failure to hold the required licence.

During the operations, which will continue over the next 12 months, visits were made to properties suspected of being long-term empty and causing problems for their local communities, while officers identified families living in poor and overcrowded accommodation.

It’s one of a number of local authorities to announce a recent clampdown on rogue landlords, including Hackney and Greater Manchester.

Hackney Council has announced a zero-tolerance approach towards rogue landlords who exploit tenants and leave residents in substandard, unsafe and often dangerous living conditions. The authority says a new, beefed up enforcement team of more than 50 officers will investigate and take action as it seeks the biggest fines and strongest possible penalties for the worst private landlords.

Hackney

“Landlords are putting profit before people,” says mayor Zoë Garbett. “Too many renters pay eye watering sums, only to live in unsafe homes. This has got to stop. The worst landlords are also exploiting the benefits system - with billions transferred directly from the government to private landlords forcing renters into terrible conditions.”

Meanwhile, Greater Manchester has just trained another 22 enforcement officers - the latest to enter a scheme launched in 2023 to boost local enforcement capacity.

Mayor Bev Craig says after years of sustained pressure on budgets, Greater Manchester Combined Authority is working with its 10 councils to strengthen local teams, rebuild in-house skills and expertise, and ensure that their powers can be applied consistency throughout the city region.

Manchester

“We know there are plenty of good landlords in Greater Manchester, and many of them have already signed up to our Good Landlord Charter,” adds Criag. “But too many are just not good enough. “We’re giving councils the resources they need to enforce the law, uphold standards, and take action against rogue operators who are happy to let properties fall into disrepair.”

She hopes to strengthen the Charter - established in 2024 – to which landlords of more than half of rented properties in Greater Manchester have now signed up as supporters, committing to going above and beyond legal minimums and spreading good practice.

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