Dodgy private landlords warned South London council is coming for them &#8211; how to report yours

The tougher sanctions come as a result of the Renters Rights Act 2025 with private tenants able to report their landlord to Southwark Council

A South London council has introduced tougher sanctions for rogue landlords who fail to uphold safe and well-managed homes for private renters.

Southwark Council’s updated Private Sector Housing Enforcement Policy aims to improve the lives of private renters across the borough by raising housing standards and protecting tenants’ rights.

Local authorities have been given extra investigative powers to carry out enforcement action including statutory notices, emergency action, civil penalties, prosecutions, rent repayment orders and banning orders to tackle the most serious offenders.

Under the policy, the council will continue to work with responsible landlords to help improve standards across the borough, but a ‘no-nonsense approach’ will be used where there are serious risks to health and safety, deliberate breaches of the law, or a history of non-compliance with landlords.

Cllr David Watson, Executive Member for Community Safety and Engagement at Southwark Council, has urged private tenants to come forward and speak to the council if they are having problems with their landlord.

Cllr Watson told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS): “We want to be a champion for our residents and this new policy gives us the tools and the powers to be able to fight their corner more effectively.

“If tenants are experiencing harassment or inappropriate behaviour from their landlords, we can step in and enforce against that.”

He added: “Our new policy helps to rebalance the power dynamic between landlords and tenants, so I urge tenants to come forward and speak to the council if they’re having issues – we can help.”

The policy includes extra duties brought in by the Renters Rights Act 2025 to support major tenancy reforms such as abolishing Section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions and limiting rent increases to once per year.

The council hopes the policy will provide greater confidence for renters, and that complaints about unsafe housing conditions, poor management, harassment or other breaches of housing law will be investigated and acted upon where necessary.

According to the 2021 census, over a quarter of Southwark residents (86,500 people) were living in private rented accommodation.

The census found over a quarter of private rental tenants face household deprivation, and this is most commonly related to housing. The census defines this as either overcrowded, in a shared dwelling or having no central heating.

Private renting is the second most common type of housing tenure in Southwark. Social rent is the most common type, with over two-fifths of Southwark residents (125,600) having this tenure type.

I am a private tenant in Southwark, how can I get help?

Private tenants seeking help or advice relating to their tenancy agreement, harassment, threats from their landlord or an eviction can contact the council’s tenancy relations service at [email protected] or can call 020 7525 4113.

Renters having problems with their private tenancy, such as a notice being asked to leave, can also contact the council using the same details.

Private tenants who are concerned their home does not meet basic standards or need advice about the new rules under the Renters Rights Act 2025 can email the council’s private sector housing enforcement team at [email protected]. They can also call 020 7525 4090.