Rogue landlords to sign register

The council that hosted the London Olympics will become the first local authority in England to force rogue landlords to sign a register in a bid to crackdown on poor living conditions.

Newham council in east London is making it compulsory for owners of privately rented homes to meet health and safety requirements and declare any criminal convictions, or face fines of up to £20,000.

Tenants are reported to have suffered from faulty wiring, dangerous gas appliances, pest infestations and overcrowding. The council described properties rented by some landlords as “slums”, where it was not unusual to find a whole family living in a single room.