Rogue landlords set to be tackled with fines in Tameside

UNSCRUPULOUS landlords and letting agents that rent out inadequate homes could soon be tackled with on-the-spot fines in Tameside.

Tameside Council’s Executive Cabinet has approved plans to adopt powers provided by the Housing and Planning Act 2016 and introduce a Civil (Financial) Penalties Policy to protect residents and ensure that tenants have a good-quality living environment.

It provides an alternative to prosecution for offences under the Housing Act 2004, including failing to comply with an improvement notice and licensing breaches.

The policy sets out how the level of fine is determined and that the financial penalty is to meet, in a fair and proportionate way, the objectives of punishment, deterrence and the removal of gain derived through offending – it should not be cheaper to offend than to take the appropriate precautions.

It gives the Council a more practical and pragmatic approach to dealing with some offences. Currently offenders can only be issued with a formal caution or prosecuted in the courts, but it’s more efficient and cost-effective to issue a civil penalty. Income will be used to improve conditions within the private rented sector in the borough.

Councillor Denise Ward, Tameside Council’s Executive Member for Climate Emergency and Environmental Services, said: “There are a small minority of unscrupulous landlords and letting agents that break the law and provide homes which fall short of the standards we and tenants expect and deserve.

“Adopting the policy and the use of civil penalties will provide us with an open and transparent tool as an alternative to prosecution in certain circumstances so that we can stand up for tenants and protect our residents while improving housing standards.”

The Council will recruit a Regulatory Compliance Officer using a staffing allocation from Government funding awarded to the Greater Manchester Combined Authority. It builds on work delivered through the Greater Manchester Good Landlord Scheme.