Research by the NRLA revealed that 50% of private landlords who have served a repossession notice have done so because of rogue tenants' anti-social or criminal behaviour.

Of UK private landlords surveyed:

• 84% had received no help or advice in tackling anti-social behaviour from their local authority. 
• 75% had not received any help from the police despite reporting incidents
• 67% had either always, or sometimes, faced problems gathering evidence or support from neighbours or fellow tenants to address the behaviour of anti-social tenants.

Outlining the typical problems they face, one landlord explained that in many cases tenants fear speaking up about other tenants acting aggressively or drinking or on drugs, for fear of safety, particularly within houses of multiple occupancies, tenants have been assaulted by other tenants but landlords can't ask individuals to leave without evidence. Evidence takes time consequently genuine tenants moved out and the landlord is left with the rogue element.

The NRLA says concerns about the lack of action to tackle problem behaviour are shared among the public more broadly, warning that efforts to tackle anti-social behaviour will be made harder when Section 21 repossessions are scrapped in the private rented sector. 

Under the Government’s plans, where tenants cause misery for fellow tenants and neighbours, landlords will only be able to repossess a property where the police or local authority have taken action against them.

In addition, they are calling for a number of measures to ensure effective action against rogue tenant individuals, these include:

• The full implementation of the recommendations of the Victims Commissioner’s 2019 report on anti-social behaviour
• The prioritisation of anti-social behaviour hearings by the courts with possession orders enforced swiftly thereafter.

They concluded by saying the police and councils are failing to provide the support landlords desperately need to take swift and effective action against rogue tenants. This needs to be addressed as a matter of urgency before Section 21 repossessions are ended.

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PS - Take a look at the free-to-use ROGUE TENANT LANDLORD WATCH section of our website - See what we are doing to reduce rogue tenant encounters for UK private landlords.