The total value of fines for non-compliance with licensing schemes in London has approached £900,000 this year alone, according to Kamma, a PropTech firm specialising in licensing compliance. With £10m in licensing fines since Kamma began tracking the Mayor of London’s Rogue Landlord Database in 2018, penalties continue to rise sharply.

Recent data highlighted in a report by Kamma indicates that councils are adopting more sophisticated strategies to clamp down on rogue landlords and agents.

Oxford Council’s recent outreach campaign serves as a prime example. By targeting tenants to raise awareness of licensing regulations, the council provided the tools to students residing in unlicensed accommodation to receive a landmark £85,000 payout in compensation.

Similarly, Wolverhampton Council’s decision to spend £2.5m on outsourcing their enforcement to private contractors demonstrates that some councils are employing new creative strategies.

Chris Morgan, COO at Kamma, commented: “The steep rise in fines and the introduction of new licensing schemes are clear signals that many councils are replacing box ticking compliance with an aggressive multi-route approach. This year alone, proactive councils have stepped up their efforts to identify and sanction unlicensed properties. As our latest report shows, top-performing councils are inspecting thousands of properties as part of their licensing regimes, setting a high standard for enforcement.”