Hackney Council is introducing new legislation aimed at cracking down on rogue landlords.
New rules, coming into effect in May, will require almost all private landlords to apply for a license for each property they own. The council will also have the power to inspect homes and crack down on substandard conditions.
Caroline Woodley, Mayor of Hackney, said: “After years of campaigning, the introduction of landlord licensing alongside the Renters Rights Act is the game-changer our private renters deserve.
“Most landlords do the right thing and we want to build our network of responsible landlords in Hackney. But we’ve heard from too many renters who face poor property management, unfair treatment and unacceptable conditions.”
This latest legislation will accompany the Labour government’s Renters Rights Act, announced last year, which grants the councils stronger enforcement powers. For the most serious breaches by landlords, criminal prosecution and unlimited fines will be handed out.
Other new rules being introduced by the government include an end to fixed rate tenancies, the abolition of ‘no fault evictions’, and restrictions on rent increases.
“The new laws set out in the Renters Rights Act are a huge step toward creating a level playing field in a previously unregulated sector,” said Mayor Woodley.
“Their introduction puts an end to Section 21 ‘no fault evictions’, which is the leading cause of homelessness, and empowers renters to challenge unfair rental increases – putting an end to backdoor evictions.”
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