Overview
The 5th Annual Tackling Rogue Landlords Forum will run as an online forum across the two mornings of 2nd and 3rd December.
How does an online interactive event work?
- A 2 -day event delivered via the next generation conference engagement platform Swapcard
- Match making networking and discussion
- Speaker sessions delivered with live presentations and resources
- Live interaction tools and match-making networking
- Varied formats and screen breaks to support an engaging experience
- Post-event resources to facilitate implementation of key takeaways
Watch this video to find out more about our new online experience
What to expect from the 2 mornings:
- Examine with sector leaders successful methods of identifying and tackling rogue landlords to improve housing standards across the private rented sector.
- Hear an update from key sector figures on the impact of Covid-19 on the private rental market and what more needs to be done to help those in need.
- Gain practical insights into how to engage with tenants to improve housing standards.
- Explore best practice strategies for utilizing new Banning Order powers, harnessing cross-council collaboration and building successful selective licensing and accreditation schemes.
Policy Background
According to the Office of National Statistics, 20% of all households are privately rented. While most landlords make sure their properties are fit for habitation, there is a small but resistant minority who flagrantly flout the law and endanger the lives of tenants and communities. In 2018, the government estimated that there are 10,500 rogue landlords are operating across the UK. In January 2020, the government awarded over 100 councils a share of over £4 million to tackle this issue.
There is a wide range of powers granted to local authorities to act against rogue landlords. Since April 2017, local authorities have the power to impose banning orders, rent repayment orders and financial penalties of up to £30,000 on landlords who consistently breach standards of living. Under the Housing and Planning Act 2016, local authorities have also been encouraged to contribute to the Rogue Landlord Database.
Since this landmark publication, the government has also enacted The Homes (Fitness for Habitation) Act 2018, which came into force in March 2019, and the Tenancy Fees Act 2019. The Homes Act consolidates the standards of living, making it a legal responsibility for landlords to ensure their properties are free of hazards and provide a safe and healthy environment for tenants. Under the Act, tenants have the right to take action in courts for a breach of contract on the grounds that the property is unfit for living. Additionally, The Tenancy Fees Act, which came in to force in June 2019, means that tenancy deposits are capped, and landlords and agents are banned from charging unnecessary fees.
The Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government has also released several online guides to support local authorities in implementation. For example, the Rogue Landlord Enforcement guide outlines best practices for identification, review, inspection, action and communication.
Despite the rich legislative landscape and guidance provided by the government, almost 90% of local authorities failed to use new powers to fine rogue landlords. Similarly, according to This is Money, in August 2019 only 12 names had been inputted on the Rogue Landlords Database. It is essential that local authorities act now, using the powers at their disposal to prevent rogue landlords from exploiting tenants and ensure they protect the most vulnerable residents across the UK.
Key Speakers
Agenda
- Day 1 - 2nd December, 09:40 - 13:00
- Day 2 - 3rd December, 09:40 - 12:40
Throughout the Conference you will be able to make use of:
- Match making networking and live delegate meet ups
- Replay functions so you never miss a session
- Live chat, questioning and polling tools
- Real time resources and presentations
- A next generation conference engagement platform
Co-Author of ‘The private rented sector in the UK: An overview of the policy and regulatory framework’
- Outlining the Mayor’s Rogue Landlord and Agent Checker including public information and private information available to local authorities and London Fire Brigade only, and the reporting tool
- Highlighting how local authorities should be using the database to empower themselves in the fight against rogue landlords, for example by identifying rogue landlords that operate across boroughs and promoting collaboration between councils
- Sharing lessons to be considered as local authorities outside of London begin to use the nation-wide Rogue Landlord Database
- Analysing what local councils across London should be prioritising when trying to deal with rogue landlords including plans for use of funding allocated by the MHCLG
- Evaluating the impact of Covid-19 on the housing market and how this has impacted the way in which London councils should be working to tackle rogue landlords in the city
- Outlining how Camden Council obtained a four-year banning order against a landlord for breaches of the Housing Act 2014
- Showcasing how councils should be using the Rogue Landlord and Agent Checker and IBD database to identify individuals and gain relevant evidence – forecasting how the nationwide database can be similarly used
- Analysing the timelines for gaining an entry warrant, conducting inspections, processing the tribunal and restoring the flat to working order
- Sharing best practice and lessons learnt from the process, including working collaboratively with other councils and bodies to ensure the individual sticks to his sentence of not operating in England for four years
- Highlighting the next phase in enforcement for Camden Council, including hiring a data scientist from the GLA and working with neighbouring councils and the HMRC to process 6-7 more banning orders
- Outlining how Camden Council have adapted to Covid-19 and the impact it has had on tackling rogue landlords in the local area
Use our Conference platform to pose your live questions to speakers, share your ideas with fellow delegates via our chat function.
- Outlining the role that property licensing plays as part of Waltham Forest’s wider housing strategy and the delivery of key local priorities
- Sharing how the case was successfully made for large-scale property licensing in Waltham Forest
- Highlighting how the regulatory framework provided by property licensing drives up property standards and management in the private rented sector
- Examining the successes of the scheme so far, including 100 successful prosecutions against private landlords, 150 financial penalties and more than 50 Interim Management Orders
- Outlining the reasons why renters often don’t complain because of the fear of eviction by their landlords
- Understanding how Covid-19 has made this issue more critical than ever and outlining the work Shelter have been doing working with tenants to ensure they know their rights in light of Covid-19
- Highlighting the importance of clarifying rights and responsibilities with tenants and landlords to ensure they are able to resolve complaints with speed and accuracy
- Sharing our views on how government can use the Renters’ Reform Bill to rebalance the relationship between landlords and tenants and use it as a vehicle to ensure better conditions in the PRS and ensure effective enforcement strategies when things go wrong
- Understanding what landlords and tenants need from the civil justice system to enforce their rights and successfully navigate the courts
Use our Conference platform to pose your live questions to speakers, share your ideas with fellow delegates via our chat function.
*Programme subject to change
Throughout the Conference you will be able to make use of:
- Match making networking and live delegate meet ups
- Replay functions so you never miss a session
- Live chat, questioning and polling tools
- Real time resources and presentations
- A next generation conference engagement platform
- Exploring the role of letting agents in regulating the private rented sector including providing a voice and advice for tenants
- Reflecting on how the increased costs on landlords due to the Tenancy Fees Act 2019 and the phasing out of Mortgage Interest Relief (MIR) has affected the letting industry, for example landlords neglecting maintenance standards to reduce costs
- Highlighting best practice moving forward including an open rogue landlord database, minimum energy efficiency standard (EES) ratings and fire safety and electrical checks to help agencies vet potential employees
- Sharing key findings from The Regulation of Property Agents (RoPA) working group recommendations, including licensed customer-facing staff
- Highlighting the importance of landlords understanding their responsibilities and duties, and remaining up to date with legislative changes – the value of seeking training, accreditation and continuous professional development
- Reflecting on government action taken to tackle ‘rogue’ landlords, including opening the Rogue Landlord Database to the public
- Considering why licensing schemes are often ineffective at tackling criminal behavior in the private rented sector, and the value of local authorities building more positive relationships with their landlord community
- Emphasizing the need for stronger enforcement to ensure that criminal landlords are driven out of the sector
- Analysing the impact of Covid-19 and campaigning for direct financial support for the sector for tenants who are facing arrears due to the pandemic
- Outlining the partnership between Unipol Student Homes, the National Landlords Association (NLA) and the Residential Landlords Association (RLA) to create the ‘Leeds Rental Standard’ scheme
- Highlighting how the creation of a self-regulatory body to log, manage, and resolve any tenant complaints without Council involvement, allows the local authority to concentrate their regulatory resources on those that show no sign of meeting housing standards voluntarily
- Sharing how the benefits of joining the scheme, including priority access to the Council Housing Officers advice and waste disposal concessions, are highlighted to landlords to encourage their participation
- Reflecting on the decision to create a publicly accessible ‘accredited landlords database’ to encourage tenants to utilize the scheme and how this can be used in conjunction with a rogue landlords database
Use our Conference platform to pose your live questions to speakers, share your ideas with fellow delegates via our chat function.
Louise Harford , Head of Private Sector Housing at Liverpool City Council will outline and review the impact of Liverpool’s licencing scheme including the key successes and lessons learnt throughout the scheme.
This session will also examine the next steps for the council in tackling rogue landlords.
- Outlining the expansion of the current licensing scheme for HMO landlords so that it covers all 20,000 private rented homes in Oxford
- Highlighting how this will be enforced by developing a new intelligence-led model which uses an algorithm to identify properties in the private rented sector that are unlicensed
- Sharing changes to governance, including the decision to take over powers to fine rogue landlords whose properties do not meet the legal minimum energy efficiency standards
- Using a new lawyer to develop a civil law toolkit to pursue rogue landlords who attempt to dodge paying financial penalties
Use our Conference platform to pose your live questions to speakers, share your ideas with fellow delegates via our chat function.
*Programme Subject to Change
Audience
This Forum is specifically designed for the Housing and Voluntary sector. Typical job titles will include:
- Directors of Housing and Environment
- Enforcement and Planning Officers
- Heads of Housing Services
- Directors of Regulation and Enforcement
- Neighbourhood Planning Officers
- Heads of Planning and Development
- Heads of Service
- Community Protection Manager
- Compliance Manager
- Directors of Public Health
- Environmental and Health Officers
- Service Managers
- Heads of Private Sector Housing
- Directors of Safeguarding
Pricing
- Public Sector£295.00 + VAT
- Voluntary Sector£245.00 + VAT
- Private Sector£395.00 + VAT