Landlord fines to hit £7,000 - but will councils collect them?

A government plan to raise fines for landlords who fail to address poor housing conditions is being welcomed by the National Residential Landlords Association, but NRLA leaders question whether councils can collect and enforce the penalties. Under proposed changes, local authorities could fine landlords up to £7,000 for refusing to fix serious hazards in rented homes, alongside reforms to the Housing, Health and Safety Rating System. NRLA chief executive Ben Beadle said well-managed landlords would have little to fear, arguing most owners provide safe housing, while criminal landlords should face consequences. He cited Freedom of Information figures showing that between 2023 and 2025, councils collected only about a quarter of fines issued to private landlords. The NRLA urged ministers to assess enforcement capacity, require annual reporting by councils, and support creation of a national Chief Environmental Health Officer to improve consistency and accountability.