Operation Maverick continues crackdown on rogue landlords

Operation Maverick has continued its crackdown on rogue landlords in Rochdale borough, with particular emphasis being placed on tackling landlords who coerce money from vulnerable illegal immigrant workers.

Rogue landlords are making a profit by renting out sub-standard and dangerous properties, and hundreds of targeted visits have already taken place throughout the borough to end this practice.

Properties being targeted include rooms above commercial premises and older terraced housing.

In the first six months there have been 46 joint operations covering 246 premises, resulting in 140 Enforcement cases.

This includes the prohibition of 21 premises as sleeping accommodation.

The most common legal infringements are overcrowding, poor management and lack of fire safety measures.  

Gillian Lucas, Private Rented Sector Officer for Rochdale Borough Council, said: “It is clear that there are landlords operating without any sense of professionalism or duty of care. They are collecting rents or benefit payments from properties they would never dream of living in themselves. The issue is not new to us but this joint approach is proving to be very effective in tackling not only housing crime but also other related crime such as employment of illegal workers and benefit fraud.”

Operation Maverick is a partnership initiative between Rochdale Borough Council, Greater Manchester Police and Greater Manchester Fire and Resuce, which is tackling the borough’s rogue landlords.

It is a part of  the Partnership Enforcement Team (PET). PET creatively uses available tools and powers to deter and disrupt individuals or groups committing more serious and complex crimes, or who are at risk of becoming involved in such activity. The PET forms a key component of local delivery of the Government’s Serious and Organised Crime Strategy, which aims to robustly tackle the issue through a ‘4Ps’ approach - ‘Pursue’, ’Prevent’, ‘Protect’, and ‘Prepare’.

Operation Maverick is one of a number of ongoing activities which place an emphasis on gathering intelligence over a sustained period before launching a potential strike against suspected perpetrators of crime.

The team works closely alongside Operation Challenger, which is the Greater Manchester-wide multi-agency approach to tackling and reducing serious and organised crime, and its impact on our communities.

Report a rogue landlord 0300 303 8874

Visit www.rochdale.gov.uk/landlord