The National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) has unveiled data pointing to deficiencies in local councils' efforts to enforce fines against rogue landlords.

According to NRLA findings, from 2021 to 2023, councils issued £13m in civil penalties but only managed to collect £6m.

This enforcement gap is underscored by the fact that 49% of local authorities did not issue any civil penalties during this period, and 69% issued five or fewer.

These findings come amid discussions in Parliament regarding the Renters (Reform) Bill, which seeks to broaden the scope of offences subject to civil penalties.

This raises concerns about the effectiveness of councils in utilizing their existing powers.

Ben Beadle, chief executive of NRLA, emphasized the need to address these issues: "Rogue and criminal landlords cause misery for their tenants and undermine the reputation of the responsible majority. Tackling them should be a high priority for councils.

"At a time of tight budgets, it is strange that councils are failing to collect the fines levied on those landlords failing to do the right thing.

"It makes a mockery of the deterrent such fines should be. It will also come as a bitter blow to the many responsible landlords who comply with, and exceed, their responsibilities – but are subject to licensing regimes and associated fees all the same."

Beadle also called for collaboration between the government and councils to strengthen enforcement capabilities to ensure that future tenant protections in the Renters (Reform) Bill remain effective.