HMRC recovered £104m from voluntary landlord tax disclosures in 2025/26, the third straight year it has raised more than £100m through this route. The article says rising disclosure volumes, HMRC data-matching and recent tax rule changes are increasing compliance pressure on landlords, particularly those with modest or accidental rental income.
Two landlords operating in Norfolk have been fined more than £216,000 in total after council inspections found serious hazards in rented homes, including unsafe electrics, damp and mould, overcrowding and fire risks. Breckland Council said the action followed repeated non-compliance, including failures to carry out electrical safety checks and to comply with improvement notices.
A landlord in Clitheroe was fined after failing to comply with an improvement notice relating to serious disrepair, including damp and mould, a defective boiler, faulty electrics and no hot water. The case followed repeated complaints from tenants and council inspections that found the required remedial works had not been completed.
Florence Eshalomi has been appointed a minister in the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government after previously chairing the housing select committee. The article says she has supported stronger tenant protections, earlier implementation of the Decent Homes Standard in the private rented sector, and a faster rollout of Awaab’s Law and the Private Rented Sector Database.
Swindon Council is urging landlords and property owners in the town centre to improve the external condition of their buildings and surrounding areas ahead of a targeted clean-up effort in late August. The council says it may consider formal enforcement action where properties continue to negatively affect the local environment.
A survey of 1,000 UK landlords by LegalforLandlords suggests tenant fraud is perceived to be rising, with 77% saying it has worsened over the past three years. Reported incidents include rent non-payment after misleading applications, criminal use of properties, unauthorised subletting, and false income or occupancy information, often resulting in significant financial losses.
Greenwich Council is consulting on a major expansion of its selective licensing scheme, with plans to extend coverage from five wards to up to 18 wards, potentially affecting around 70% of the borough. The council says the existing scheme has improved safety standards, reduced hazards and anti-social behaviour, and it has inspected 622 licensed properties and helped resolve 2,103 hazards since the start of 2025.
Hertsmere Council is consulting on updated amenity standards for HMOs, covering room sizes, communal facilities, refuse and recycling arrangements, garden upkeep and inspection frequency. The draft also reflects updated legislation and adds expectations around fire and gas safety precautions.
The article reports on Rent Smart Wales encouraging private landlords and letting agents to complete hate crime awareness training and to help tenants report hate crimes, with consent preferred but not required according to the excerpt. It frames this within the Welsh Government’s Anti-racism Wales Action Plan and associated support campaigns and training resources.
Blackburn with Darwen Council has prosecuted three landlords after they ignored an Improvement Notice relating to serious hazards in a rented home, including damp and mould, lack of heating, electrical and fire risks, and structural concerns. The landlords were fined and ordered to complete the required remedial works, and the case will be reported to the Rogue Landlord Database.
County Durham Council secured a fine of more than £42,000 against Carter Property Services after the company was found guilty of 13 breaches of its Selective Licence across eight rented properties. The case involved serious management failures, including missed inspections, overdue gas safety certification and reports of extremely poor living conditions at one property.
New data from the NRLA indicates that councils in England have increased property inspections under the Housing, Health and Safety Rating System, but are collecting only around a quarter of the fines issued to landlords for housing offences. The article also notes calls for greater transparency, including annual council reporting on private rented sector enforcement activity.
