Landlord fines unpaid despite more council inspections
English councils raised Housing, Health and Safety Rating System inspections of rental homes by 7% to 91,620 in 2023/24–2024/25, yet a typical landlord still faces weak follow-through: of nearly £30 million in fines issued, only about a quarter—almost £7.5 million—was collected, according to National Residential Landlords Association Freedom of Information data.
Key Takeaways
- HHSRS property inspections in England rose 7% to 91,620 across 2023/24 and 2024/25.
- Of almost £30 million in landlord fines issued by 285 councils, only about £7.5 million was collected.
- The NRLA says compliant landlords are subsidising enforcement through licensing and other fees.
- The Housing Select Committee has urged stronger accountability for private rented sector enforcement.
- Revised HHSRS rules allow civil penalties of up to £40,000 for serious rental hazards.
Why did more inspections not mean tougher enforcement?
Freedom of Information figures published by the National Residential Landlords Association show councils conducted 91,620 HHSRS inspections between 2023/24 and 2024/25, up from 85,326 in the prior two-year period.
That rise points to more proactive checking of rental risks. Collection of penalties has not kept pace. Earlier NRLA data found councils are recovering only about a quarter of fines issued for housing offences, leaving most financial sanctions unpaid.
For owners tracking high-value homes and rental assets, that gap matters. More visits without recovered penalties can blunt deterrence against the rogue minority. Readers following broader housing and luxury property trends can also browse BlasterPost’s Luxury Real Estate & Dream Homes coverage.
How much landlord fine money are councils leaving on the table?
Between 2023/24 and 2024/25, 285 English councils that responded to the NRLA issued almost £30 million in fines to private landlords. Roughly a quarter of that total—almost £7.5 million—was collected.
Chief executive Ben Beadle argued that while rising inspections suggest more proactive enforcement, councils are “failing to collect the money they should from those flouting their obligations.” Under a “polluter should be paying” model, he said responsible landlords face licensing and other fees that effectively cover the cost of pursuing the criminal minority.
Beadle called that arrangement “not sustainable” and said it undermines confidence among landlords councils want to keep in the market. Tenants and good-faith owners, he warned, are both let down when unpaid fines leave enforcement underpowered.
What are landlords and MPs asking councils to change?
The cross-party Housing Select Committee has warned that government needs to do more to hold councils to account for tackling rogue and criminal landlords who damage the reputation of the compliant majority.
The NRLA is pressing every local authority to publish annual reports on private rented sector enforcement, including how licensing income translates into better action. The select committee has backed that transparency push in a recent report.
Separately, landlords whose properties have serious defects are now liable for civil penalties of up to £40,000 under revised HHSRS standards. LandlordZONE notes many councils are already starting to skip warnings and move straight to penalties under the Renters’ Rights Act, raising the stakes if unpaid fines persist.