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Barnet Council intensifies crackdown on rogue landlords

Sunday, October 11th, 2026 - Barnet Council

Targeted evening inspections aim to protect tenants and tackle unsafe, unlicensed and overcrowded accommodation.

Barnet Council has launched a series of targeted evening enforcement operations to tackle landlords who fail to meet their legal responsibilities and help protect tenants living in unsafe or poorly managed accommodation.

Housing enforcement officers visited 76 properties across the borough during the first evening’s operations, with 22 properties now subject to legal investigations for suspected failure to hold the required licence.

Most houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) in Barnet require a licence to help ensure properties are safe and properly managed.

Failure to license a property where required is a serious offence and can result in a financial penalty of up to £40,000 per offence. So far this year, Barnet Council has issued £187,000 in fines for offences relating to the licensing and management of HMOs.

During the operations, officers also identified families living in poor and overcrowded accommodation. Visits were made to properties suspected of being long-term empty and causing problems for their local communities.

Cllr Ross Houston, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Homes and Regeneration at Barnet Council, said:

“Everyone in Barnet deserves a safe and properly managed home. Most landlords take their responsibilities seriously and provide good-quality accommodation for their tenants, but a minority continue to operate outside the law.

“We will not hesitate to take action where landlords fail to meet the standards required of them or put their tenants at risk. These targeted operations allow our officers to identify problems first hand and make sure those responsible are held to account.

“Our message to landlords is simple: understand your responsibilities, make sure your property is safe and, where a licence is required, get one.”

Barnet Council has said these evening enforcement operations will continue over the next 12 months. Landlords and managing agents are strongly encouraged to check their legal responsibilities and ensure they have the appropriate licence in place to avoid enforcement action.

Our free guide containing information about property licensing and HMO planning rules in Barnet is available here.