Liverpool Council has teamed up with the emergency services and HMRC to share intelligence and weed out 'non-compliant' landlords.

Its fledging private sector housing intelligence and enforcement force works with Merseyside Police, Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service, HM Revenue and Customs and the Home Office on joint operations as part of a government-funded pathfinder programme.

Under the city’s selective licensing scheme, unlicensed landlords are considered non-compliant, explains interim director of housing, Louise Harford, who adds: “Patterns of non-compliance in one area means there is a high chance of other non-compliance in other areas, whether that’s with trading standards matters, tax, or other evasive behaviour which all too often, is linked to private rented properties.”

Brothels

By pooling resources and combining inspection and enforcement powers they can target licensed properties, which can be used for criminal gains such as drugs, brothels and people trafficking. Regular check-ups help spot properties being used to cultivate cannabis plants.

Using intelligence, the team can also investigate and enforce against the owners of neglected properties being used for criminality.

“It means we can investigate an owner/landlord’s entire property portfolio to ensure their misconduct is not replicated elsewhere, with powers to place rogue landlords on a nationwide banned list,” says Harford (pictured).

“This broad network of partner agencies means the team can effectively work in collaboration to tackle properties being used for criminality often leading to overcrowding and illegal evictions but also related criminal issues like drug crime, modern slavery and human trafficking, illegal employment, and stolen utility supplies.”