This year London is on track to see the highest level of fines levied against rogue landlords and letting agents, it has been revealed as more and more councils begin operating licencing schemes.

Geospatial compliance platform Kamma says it expects to see a 50% increase in enforcement and a doubling of fines this year compared to 2022.

It predicts this will include total fines levied increasing from £1 million to £2 million and a total fines to date – since it began collecting data – of £8.6 million, boosted by a £500,000 jump in penalties during the first three months of this year alone.

During March, Camden council topped the council enforcement list in terms of the number of cases brought forward, followed closely by Newham and Waltham Forest. The London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham still has the highest average value of fines per case at £19,800.

Eight new licensing schemes have launched so far this year, with at least five more planned to start in the coming quarter.

Record

Kamma’s CEO Orla Shields says: “Every month, Kamma reports a new record increase in fines and enforcement seen in the private rented sector, and the start of 2023 is no different.

“This month we published a Licensing report that summarises all the trends seen in the PRS, including property licensing, enforcement, and licensing fines within the last three months.”

Although the increase in enforcement and fines is significant it’s likely to be just part of the picture. Kamma’s data is taken from the Mayor of London’s rogue landlords checking database but does not include fines issued by courts and Tribunals that aren’t referred it.

Read more: Legislation for landlords - everything you need to know.