Criminal landlordism and housing justice in England’s private rented sector
On November 26th 2024 at 16:00 CET, Dr. Caroline Hunter and Dr. Kit Colliver will be presenting their work titled ‘Criminal landlordism and housing justice in England’s private rented sector’. The abstract can be read below:
The UK’s Private Rented Sector (PRS) has expanded significantly over the past 40 years. As the availability of social rental housing has dwindled due to policies like Right to Buy, the PRS has played an increasingly important role in housing vulnerable populations. This shift has created opportunities for exploitation, both of the physical state of properties and the tenants residing in them. Concerns about this trajectory have prompted some government intervention – for example, the introduction of Banning Orders aimed at curbing ‘rogue landlords’. However, much about the nature and scope of criminality within the UK’s PRS remains under-explored.
We present data from our project, one of four work packages in the ESRC-funded project ‘Understanding criminal landlordism in the private rented sector and co-producing solutions’ which looks at legislative mechanisms supporting housing justice in this area. In particular, it focuses on the role of local authorities and the courts in enforcing housing law, which typically falls outside the jurisdiction of the police.
Drawing on case study data from local authority PRS teams, and complemented by data on criminal prosecutions, our presentation will focus on cases falling under the Protection from Eviction Act 1977 which created criminal offences of illegal eviction and harassment. We identify key factors affecting the enforcement process – including the roles of tenants, police, local authorities and the courts – and consider the challenges arising from each. Looking ahead to the much-anticipated Renters’ Reform Bill (RRB), which promises stronger tenant rights, we reflect on the extent to which current and future enforcement practices support housing justice in the evolving PRS landscape in England.
About the speakers
Dr. Caroline Hunter is a Professor of Housing Law at York Law School. Her research focus is on the boundaries between law, policy and practice, particularly in the area of housing policy and law. She is Principal Investigator of the ‘Housing Justice’ work package in the ESRC-funded project ‘Understanding criminal landlordism in the private rented sector and co-producing solutions’.
Dr. Kit Colliver is a Research Associate at York Law School. Their research interests include the relationships between local authorities, housing policy and social inequalities. They are responsible for day-to-day delivery of the ‘Housing Justice’ work package in the ESRC-funded project ‘Understanding criminal landlordism in the private rented sector and co-producing solutions’.
About the EVICT talks
In each EVICT Talk, we will have a speaker on a topic related to evictions, the right to housing, housing law, the (complex) relation between international law and national law, and/or data science. Each talk, we will have a different international speaker (ranging from scholars to practitioners) who will offer fascinating insights into their expertise.
Join this talk
The talk will take place online. Join us on Zoom. A recording of the session will be available on this website later.
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November 26th, 2024
Online