Enforcement
It will be a criminal offence for a landlord to operate a residential let property in a licensing area without a licence from the 1st May 2020.
Enforcement will be a strong feature of this scheme to create a level playing field for all letting businesses. The Council’s Enforcement Policy provides the basis for all enforcement work. Landlords who fail to licence, breach licence conditions or breach other housing-related legislation may be subject to a range of penalties from prosecutions in Magistrates or Crown Court to Civil Penalties of up to £30,000. Rent repayment orders will also feature in appropriate cases.
The aim is to professionalise all those operating Letting businesses whether they let a single home or many. This will improve the lives of residents and drive standards up in the housing market within the area.