Cuckooing, What Does it Mean for Landlords?
Editor’s note: Updated to reflect the Crime and Policing Act 2026 and the Renters’ Rights Act 2025.
Most will know the term ‘cuckooing’ as the situation where a cuckoo bird invades another bird’s nest. However, what is not so well known is that the term also has a place in landlord and tenant law.
What Is Cuckooing in Landlord and Tenant Law?
Cuckooing is a term used in the property industry to describe the exploitation of a vulnerable individual, usually by an organised criminal group, by way of a home takeover. These groups will target people who are lonely or isolated, have addiction issues, have mental health issues or have learning difficulties.
These criminal gangs will single out the vulnerable individual and befriend them, with the purpose of moving into the individual’s house in order to conduct illegal activity from the premises; this can vary from drug use to human trafficking.
Is Cuckooing a Criminal Offence?
Cuckooing is now a specific criminal offence. The Crime and Policing Act 2026, which received Royal Assent on 29 April 2026, created a standalone offence of controlling another person’s home for criminal purposes without their consent. It carries a maximum sentence of five years’ imprisonment, a fine, or both. The offence is being brought into force in stages. Until then, perpetrators can still be prosecuted under existing laws, such as drug offences.
Why Cuckooing Is a Risk for Landlords
This can be a real issue where the vulnerable individual is a tenant as, being a landlord, you will be keen to ensure that, firstly, no illegal activity is carried out inside the property and, secondly, you are aware of exactly who is residing in your property.
Case Study: Cuckooing in a Rented Property in Poole
There has been a recent incident local to our Poole office, whereby a county lines drug gang singled out a vulnerable female living alone and began using her rented property as a base for drug deals. Due to the tenant’s vulnerable state, the landlords only became aware of this issue when they visited the property to do some routine maintenance. During this visit, the landlord noticed that there were multiple people in the property appearing to be under the influence, which seemed to unnerve the tenant.
In the following days, the landlords received a call from the police to say the tenant had been the victim of cuckooing and therefore had been rehomed out of the area to ensure they were not targeted again.
However, the issues did not stop there for these landlords, as when the gang became aware that the property was empty, they then broke in repeatedly to continue using it as their base for conducting drug crimes.
How Landlords Can Spot the Signs of Cuckooing
- Know Your Tenant: Is your tenant living alone? Are they receiving housing benefits? Being alive to these facts means you are more alert to the signs of cuckooing and can act quickly with other local services (police, social services etc) to resolve the problem. Please note that under the Renters’ Rights Act 2025, landlords must not discriminate against tenants because they receive benefits. This awareness should only be used to safeguard your tenant, never to make letting decisions.
- Be Aware of the Position of Your Property: Is your property in an area that could be targeted by criminal gangs?
- Physical Signs to Look Out For: Are there any unusual smells coming from the Property? Are there frequent visitors to the property? Are there always different or multiple cars parked outside the property?
If you suspect your tenant has been the victim of cuckooing, it is important to report your suspicions to your local authority or the police at the earliest opportunity. If someone is in immediate danger, call 999. Your local authority will then work with the relevant services in your area to ensure that your tenant is safeguarded.
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