Burnham will bear down on rogue landlords – warning
Summary
The article reports expectations of tougher enforcement against rogue landlords in the second half of 2026, driven by the Renters Rights Act and higher fines, alongside increased local authority enforcement funding. It also suggests contested evictions may take longer to resolve through the courts, adding pressure to the possession process.
Why it matters
Residential property surveyors working in lettings, valuation and compliance should be aware of a likely tightening regulatory environment and its knock-on effects on landlord behaviour and possession timelines. This may influence portfolio risk, rental market conditions and advice given to clients.
Key points
- Higher fines and more council enforcement are expected to increase penalties for landlord breaches.
- A Burnham-led Labour government is forecast to place greater emphasis on regulation and enforcement.
- Contested evictions are expected to take longer because cases must go to court.
- The article cites a rise in median claim-to-possession time to 27 weeks in 2025 from 24 weeks in 2024.
- Most landlords are said to be adapting to tighter rules despite the increased compliance burden.
This is an RPSA summary of a publicly available article. The full content remains with the original publisher.
