Landlords in England are now facing a stark warning: neglect your rented properties and you could be fined up to £7,000. The new powers, which came into effect on Monday 22 June as part of the landmark Renters’ Rights Act, aim to crack down on substandard housing conditions that put tenants at risk.
The penalties specifically target 21 critical hazards, including severe damp and mould, faulty electrical systems, fire hazards, and structural integrity problems. Government estimates suggest around one in ten private rented homes suffer from at least one of these serious health and safety issues.
The introduction of fines complements existing enforcement tools available to local authorities, which already include powers to compel landlords to undertake repairs and carry out emergency works themselves. Housing Secretary Steve Reed has urged councils across England to use the full range of their powers to address unsafe housing and protect tenants.
Meanwhile, the framework used to assess health and safety risks in all types of housing – the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) – has been updated for the first time in two decades. The revised system aims to simplify hazard identification and speed up enforcement action, making it easier to tackle issues like damp, fire risks, and unsafe electrics.
Organisations representing renters have welcomed the new measures, but warn that their success depends on councils taking proactive action against landlords who disregard safety regulations. Chief Executive of Generation Rent Ben Twomey said homes are fundamental to people's lives, and no renter should endure conditions like mould or damp. Director at the Renters’ Reform Coalition Clara Collingwood added that authorities must now use these new powers to tackle landlords profiting from unhealthy homes.