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<p>The Government is determined to crack down on rogue landlords. Local housing authorities
already have strong powers under the Housing Act 2004 to require that landlords make
necessary improvements to a property. Where a property contains potentially serious
risks to the health and safety of the occupants, the local housing authority must
take enforcement action.</p><p>The Housing and Planning Act 2016 introduced a range
of further measures to strengthen local housing authority powers to tackle rogue landlords
and drive up standards. In April 2017, we introduced civil penalties of up to £30,000
as an alternative to prosecution and extended Rent Repayment Orders, which require
a landlord to repay a specified amount of rent to a local housing authority and/or
tenant, to cover illegal eviction and failure to comply with a statutory notice. We
intend to introduce a system of banning the most serious and prolific offenders from
renting properties, as well as a database of rogue landlords and lettings agents to
help local housing authorities with their housing standards enforcement work, in April
2018. These new powers will give local housing authorities the tools they need to
crack down on rogue landlords who disregard the law and take advantage of tenants
in the private rented sector.</p><p>Ultimately local housing authorities are responsible
for taking enforcement action against rogue landlords. Our 'How to Rent' and 'How
to rent a safe home' guides provide information for tenants on their rights and responsibilities
and signpost them to their local housing authority for further information should
there be a problem with their rented property. The Department will also be publishing
further guidance for local housing authorities on the powers in the Housing and Planning
Act 2016 which will encourage local housing authorities to publicise successful prosecutions
locally and to make information on banned landlords available on request by a tenant.
The guidance will be available on Gov.uk by April 2018.</p>
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