Housing enforcement and civil penalties
The government has introduced Renters’ Rights Act 2025 to give greater tenancy protection for private rented tenants, and to raise standards of private sector housing. These changes do not apply to private social landlords.
The Renters Rights Act 2025 places a statutory duty on local housing authorities to enforce new requirements relating to tenancy management, rental bidding and discrimination as well as current housing offences. On the 23 June 2026, landlords may be issued with civil penalty for existing seious category 1 hazard when offices consider landlord has not taken reasonably practicable measures to remove the hazard.
All private rented properties—excluding purpose‑built student accommodation—from 1st May 2026, are assured periodic tenancies. Landlords must provide existing tenants with the prescribed Renters' Rights Act information leaflet and have written tenancy agreements. Written statement of terms on tenancy is available to view on check what you need to give your tenants guide. Details of new landlord requirements can be viewed on government housing hub website. Details of new tenancy rights can be viewed on government website.
No fault eviction notice cannot be issued from 1st May 2026 and landlord can only seek possession of property on grounds set out in the Housing Act 1988 following the statutory possession process.
Housing offences relate to non-compliance with enforcement actions that maybe issued under the Housing Act 2004 for hazards in properties such as improvement notices, prohibition orders or banning orders, or for failures to licence a licensable house in multiple occupation or to comply with the houses in multiple occupation management regulations. Offences also include failure to comply with Electrical Safety Remedial Notices illegal eviction or harassment and certain tenancy deposit and tenant fee offences.
Non-Compliance of landlords for housing and tenancy offences can now be enforced by means of civil penalties or for the more serious offences by prosecution.
A new breach for landlords who are unable to demonstrate reasonably practicable
Under the Renters' Rights Act 2025 and existing housing legislation there are two categories of enforcement:
- Breaches, which may attract a financial penalty of up to £7,000.
- Offences, which may attract a civil penalty of up to £40,000 or prosecution where appropriate.
The housing enforcement policy set out the enforcement options available and how decisions on actions are determined.
The civil penalty policy outlines the process for determining the level of fine in line with the government civil penalty guidance. Civil penalty policy ensures the determination of fines is consistent and proportionate. Penalties are based on the seriousness of the breach or offence, landlord culpability, harm caused, compliance history and any aggravating or mitigating factors.
The civil penalty policy seeks to ensure that civil penalties are set at a level that makes it clear to the landlord concerned and to others that operating unlawfully as a landlord is financially disadvantageous when compared to operating lawfully
Any breaches or offences arising from 1 May 2026 will be managed in accordance with Housing Authority Enforcement Policy and Civil Penalty Policy and associated government guidance.
Environmental Health will investigate complaints of poor housing conditions, unlawful landlord practices and tenancy-related breaches while trading standards will investigate rental bidding, rent deposit and unlawful tenant fees
To report your concerns please use online Renters Right Private Sector Housing Reporting Form or contact us on 6436100.