Property agents and landlords
Rented housing - Letting agents, property managers and landlords
Housing is one of the main issues for London residents. As the private rented sector has grown so have concerns over safety, standards and unfair trading practices.
We aim to work with other regulatory partners to increase protections for private renters and combat the small minority of rogue landlords and property agents who don't comply with the law.
This work supports our Fairer, Greener, Safer commitments on quality affordable homes.
Trading Standards enforces a range of legislation intended to ensure transparency and fairness in the lettings and property market. In some cases, penalties of £30,000 can be imposed for certain breaches or businesses and landlords can be prosecuted and fined or sent to prison.
We also work with a range of colleagues from other council teams, such as planning enforcement, tenancy relations and private sector housing enforcement. This ensures that investigations into the most problematic landlords and agents benefit from a holistic approach. All potential breaches can then be considered for action and the courts can sentence with the full extent of any malpractices taken into account.
We will seek to use the Proceeds of Crime Act to ensure that those convicted of offences have any criminal benefit they've obtained confiscated.
- find more information on trading standards work affecting the lettings and property sector on the London Trading Standards website
- find more information on property licensing and landlord guidance
- for private tenancy advice issues contact our tenancy relations service
- to seek redress from a property agent, both landlords and tenants can complain to a government approved redress scheme
Page last updated: 17 May 2023
