A letting agent has today given a warning to tenants, urging them to protect themselves against rogue landlords.
The warning from AcornLettings in Nottingham comes after a claim that the city is one of the worst in Britain for irresponsible property owners.
Findings
Data from 2006 to 2014 shows that Nottingham is one of the top-ten locations for prosecutions against rogue landlords and agents. There were 46 prosecutions against rogues in the period, with fines totalling over £141,000.[1]
AcornLettings manager director Richard Hopwood observed, ‘obviously poor housing has a severe effect on a tenant’s health and well-being and the problem of rogue landlords has been a serious concern across Nottinghamshire.’[1]
Hopwood also believes that it is sometimes too easy for a landlord to be considered a rogue, even if they try to operate with the best intentions. Rigorous legislation concerning rental properties is becoming harder to adhere to, making some honest landlords fall into the same bracket as their unscrupulous peers.
Avoidance
Additionally, Nottingham City Council’s environmental health team issued landlords who were found to have deliberately avoided licensing their properties who in excess of 750 enforcement notices in the past year.
‘There are over 300 bits of legislation in every tenancy which highlights the risk involved with renting privately or becoming a DIY landlords,’ Hopwood concluded.
[1] https://www.lettingagenttoday.co.uk/breaking-news/2015/8/letting-agent-issues-warning-on-rogue-landlords