East London council targets slum landlords

Tuesday 01 January 2013

Newham council in east London became the first local authority in England today to introduce a landlord register.

Private landlords in the borough will have to declare criminal convictions and follow safety rules - or face up to £20,000 in fines.

Councillors said it was a blow to rogue landlords making huge profits by creating overcrowded slums and charging extortionate rates.

Newham has carried out raids since 2010 in a bid to force out the area's slumlords.

Private landlords in Scotland already have to register and the Welsh government is set to introduce a similar law.

But the Con-Dems have ruled out a similar nationwide scheme in England.

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