Key Points
- Two-thirds of English local authorities, including Ealing Council, recorded no prosecutions of private landlords in the past three years, per a Freedom of Information (FOI) request conducted by The Guardian.
- Between 2022 and 2024, 252 local authorities received around 300,000 tenant complaints but carried out just 640 prosecutions and issued 4,702 civil penalty notices.
- Labour-led Ealing Council focuses on issuing Civil Penalty Notices with fines up to £30,000 rather than lengthy prosecutions.
- Campaigners warn that budget constraints hinder councils’ ability to inspect and enforce housing standards, risking tenant safety.
- Ealing Council reported issuing 375 written warnings and 155 enforcement notices between April 2024 and March 2025.
- The council uses additional powers such as Rent Repayment Orders, Rogue Landlord Database registrations, and property licensing to maintain standards.
- Local political criticism calls for better treatment of council tenants and more assertive action on private landlords.
Why have most local authorities not prosecuted private landlords in recent years?
As reported by Amelia Harper of The Guardian, a Freedom of Information (FOI) request reveals that about two-thirds of local councils in England did not prosecute any private landlords between 2022 and 2024. The FOI, answered by 252 authorities including Ealing Council, shows that despite receiving nearly 300,000 tenant complaints during that period, councils brought only 640 prosecutions and issued 4,702 civil penalty notices—a total of 5,342 formal enforcement actions.
According to an Ealing Council spokesperson speaking to EALING.NEWS, this decline in prosecutions is primarily due to the increased use of Civil Penalty Notices authorised since 2016. These notices enable councils to levy fines of up to £30,000 without resorting to costly and time-consuming court cases, which often take years to resolve. The spokesperson explained:
“That is the fundamental factor behind the decline in prosecutions.”
What enforcement actions has Ealing Council taken against private landlords?
Ealing Council, governed by the Labour party, highlighted a range of enforcement activities aimed at improving housing standards. Between 1 April 2024 and 31 March 2025, the council issued 375 written warnings and served 155 enforcement notices in the private rented sector. The council states these steps are vital to encouraging landlords to improve conditions.
The council spokesperson detailed:
“Our borough operates one of the largest property licensing schemes in West London, with all Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) and about two-thirds of other private rented properties requiring a licence to ensure quality standards.”
Beyond warnings and notices, the council leverages other powers such as:
- Supporting tenants in seeking Rent Repayment Orders,
- Registering non-compliant landlords on the national Rogue Landlord Database,
- Refusing or revoking property licences when standards are not met.
They stressed that licensing empowers inspectors to intervene early and educate landlords about their legal obligations, helping prevent problems before they escalate.
What challenges do housing campaigners identify regarding local authority enforcement?
Nye Jones, Campaigns Manager at Generation Rent, told The Guardian that the FOI findings highlight severe concerns about councils’ capacity to enforce housing standards. He stated:
“Many councils are stretched thin due to budget cuts, which limits their ability to carry out inspections or comprehensively follow up tenant complaints.”
This shortage of resources creates risks for tenants living in substandard homes where landlords might fail to meet legal requirements.
Jones’s comments underscore the pressures councillors face in balancing enforcement with fiscal constraints, which often result in a reliance on less resource-intensive measures like penalty notices instead of prosecution.
How do local political leaders in Ealing view landlord enforcement and tenant issues?
Councillor Gary Malcolm, Leader of Ealing Liberal Democrats, expressed critical views of the current situation in an interview with EALING.NEWS. He said:
“Liberal Democrats say for a long time landlords have been left to treat many tenants badly. Ealing Council needs to both treat council tenants much better by fixing the huge numbers of damp and mould problems as well as being more proactive with making sure that landlords change their ways.”
Malcolm’s remarks highlight local political pressure on the ruling council to improve conditions not only in the private rented sector but also in council housing, which faces its own challenges.
How does Ealing Council respond to concerns about enforcement and tenant safety?
The Ealing Council spokesperson emphasised ongoing efforts to secure safe and stable homes for private tenants. They said:
“We receive around 1,500 service requests each year concerning private rented homes, including tenant complaints, landlord enquiries, and neighbour concerns.”
They described using a “graduated enforcement approach” that gives landlords a chance to make repairs, especially where they were unaware of problems, before formal action is taken. This method balances fairness with the need to maintain housing standards.
The spokesperson concludes that the council remains committed to tackling issues in the private rented sector through licensing, civil penalties, and varied enforcement tools aimed at improving conditions for tenants and holding landlords accountable.
