In a move that has sparked heated debate across the property management
sector, the government’s proposal to drastically increase fines for property
managers who breach existing Right to Rent check laws has drawn criticism
from both landlords and letting agents.
The backlash comes as the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA)
and Propertymark, key players in the industry, label the measure a mere
‘gimmick,’ asserting that many landlords and agents are already abiding by
their responsibilities under the Right to Rent legislation.
Ben Beadle expressed his concerns.
NRLA Chief Executive, Ben Beadle, expressed his concerns, saying that the
proposed fines fail to address the underlying issue of immigration and could
inadvertently hinder the housing prospects of some British nationals.
Beadle voiced his opinion to The Telegraph, stating, “Piling pressure on
landlords would merely fail to deal with the root cause of immigration and
make it more difficult for poorer British nationals to find housing because
they are more likely not to have passports or driving licences, they can use
to prove their citizenship status.”
Under the government’s plan, the fines for landlords would witness a
substantial increase.
For a first breach, the penalties would surge from £80 per lodger and £1,000
per occupier to a substantial £5,000 per lodger and £10,000 per occupier.
In the case of repeat breaches, the fines could be as high as £10,000 per
lodger and £20,000 per occupier, as compared to the previous penalties of
£500 and £3,000, respectively. These steeper fines are set to be enforced
from the outset of 2024.
Beadle criticized the government’s approach, emphasizing that the focus
should be on addressing illegal migration rather than placing the burden
on landlords.
Beadle said: “The announcement is little more than a gimmick. There’s no
substance behind it… Rather than doing something directly, you’re relying
effectively on a small army of landlords and letting agents to do your dirty
work for you. And rather than bring them along with you on the journey,
you’re saying that landlords and letting agents have a problem.”
Beadle also raised concerns that the heightened fines would likely be
perceived by landlords yet another assault by the government on their
sector. He pointed out the relatively low level of fines issued – averaging
only 80 per year – as evidence that landlords themselves are not the primary
source of the problem.
As stakeholders and government officials continue to clash over the proposed
fines, it remains to be seen whether these measures will bring about the
intended changes or if they will further strain the already complex
relationship between property managers and the government.
With the implementation of the new fines scheduled for 2024, the debate
surrounding their effectiveness and fairness is set to continue, keeping the
spotlight firmly fixed on the broader issues of immigration and housing
access.
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