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Labour’s shock £100,000 fines for substandard rental properties

Labour has given shocking new details of its proposals for the private rental sector including £100.000 fines if properties are deemed substandard.

The party says it will introduce a national ‘property MOT’. 

This would introduce a legal requirement for landlords to complete an independent annual inspection to ensure homes are up to scratch, with fines up to £100,000 and forced repayment of rent to tenants if landlords let sub-standard properties or flout other  rules.

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Labour claims tenants collectively pay over £10 billion a year in rent to landlords letting out sub-standard homes. 

And it says one in four private rented homes is classed as ‘non-decent’.

Labour will also draw up a private renters’ charter will be based on three key rights:

- The right to an affordable rented home: with rents capped at inflation nationally, powers for further controls for areas facing run-away rents and local housing allowance increased to cover the cost of renting;

- The right to a secure rented home: with new open-ended tenancies, protecting tenants from unfair eviction;

- The right to a decent rented home: with new minimum standards, backed by a new annual property MOT and stronger local enforcement powers.

Party leader Jeremy Corbyn says: “Labour will be on the side of tenants and take on dodgy landlords who have been given free rein for too long. Real change means taking on those who exploit the housing crisis to charge eye-watering rents for substandard accommodation.

“Labour will put power in the hands of tenants with our new charter of renters’ rights, a cap on private rents and funding for renters unions to support tenants to organise and defend their right to safe and secure housing.”

Shadow housing secretary John Healey adds: “The power imbalance in the private rental market is at the heart of our housing crisis, with rents eating up too much of people’s pay, tenants afraid of eviction if they report problems, and families with children forced to uproot their lives at short notice.

“Labour will legislate in year one for a new charter of renters’ rights, with open-ended tenancies, new minimum standards and rent controls to make renting more affordable. We will make private renting a better option for all.”

  • James B

    Great headline to get landlords running .. I can see the biggest crash in the property market for years if labour get in

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    I take it this wont apply to local authority properties - they wouldn't be able to afford the fines!

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    • 26 November 2019 10:14 AM

    Tenants can have all the rights in the world.................................not much use if all the LL have gone!!!
    Rent control will just make the business of being a LL unviable especially those that are leveraged.
    Do these Labour economic illiterates not understand the need for PROFIT for LL!!??
    Without it there isn't much point remaining a LL unless you are gambling on CG and then even that is apparently going to be subject to higher taxation.
    If the Tories win the LL viability is borderline.
    If Labour get in it is game over for LL.
    The PTB seem to have a very strange idea that LL will remain so committing their capital resources to an unprofitable investment.
    What makes them believe this!?

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    The right to an affordable rented home?? Errr... affordable is subjective. Surely no-one can disagree with that?? So if you can't afford it, but have a 'right' to it, then what? I have the 'right' to afford a swimming pool right now, doesn't mean I CAN afford one. What else will they decide we have a 'right to afford'?

    'Excuse me, I have no money but have the right to an affordable home'. 'Yes sir, wait right there while I contact our list of free house providers'. What the hell is housing benefit if it's not 'the right' to an affordable home for the poorest? How much further do we have to go than subsidising someone's rent? Subsidising someone's higher rent in a more expensive house? Obviously this is a viable economic proposition. Absolutely ludicrous.

    The right to a secure rented home? What the hell is a tenancy agreement then?

    The right to a decent rented home? They have that now. Minimum standards and local authority powers are already at more than appropriate levels. The problem is the local authorities do not enforce the current legislation already in place. So Labour have the answer. MORE legislation to not be enforced.

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