Renters’ Rights Bill hands more power and money to councils through tougher enforcement
10 months ago | 2 comments
Councils granted new powers to target landlords in enforcement crackdown
9:47 AM, 17th July 2025, 9 months ago
31
Councils could have stronger powers to carry out surprise enforcement inspections under the Renters’ Rights Bill.
Amendments to the Renters’ Rights Bill, passed by members of the House of Lords, could allow local authorities to enter private rented properties without giving landlords advance notice.
Previously, councils were required to give tenants and landlords 24 hours’ notice before taking enforcement action. This requirement will still apply to tenants.
However, landlords will now be informed within ‘a reasonable amount of time’ AFTER the entry has taken place.
Good landlords have nothing to fear
Baroness Taylor of Stevenage, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Housing, told members of the House of Lords, the changes will stop criminal landlords from evading enforcement.
She said: “My Lords, government Amendments 111, 112 and 113 to Section 239 of the Housing Act 2004 and Clause 126 of the Renters’ Rights Bill amend the requirements for entering premises without a warrant for the purposes of certain enforcement action. Notice to the property owner or landlord will now be provided after the entry has taken place, within a reasonable amount of time, rather than at least 24 hours before.
“The 24-hours prior notice requirement for tenants and occupiers will remain, so residents will always be aware that a power of entry is going to be exercised, whether that is under Section 239 of the Housing Act 2004 or Clause 126 of the bill.
“Local authorities have told us that providing notice can result in unscrupulous landlords hiding evidence of breaches, intimidating tenants, and temporarily fixing issues before reverting to non-compliance.”
She adds “good landlords have nothing to fear from the amendments.”
She said: “Local authorities are able to use these powers of entry only if they consider them necessary to determine whether enforcement action is needed. Officers will need the correct authorisation and will need to state the purpose of the inspection and ensure lawful use of the power of entry.
“Compliant landlords will not face any detriment as a result of this change, which is not intended to impact on good landlords. They will benefit from streamlined enforcement, with transparency through timely post-inspection notices.”
Changes introduce ambiguity
However, Lord Jamieson of the Conservatives pointed out the amendments could open the door to abuse of power.
He said: “On these Benches we have consistently supported effective enforcement, but it needs to be proportionate, accountable and clearly justified. The balance between enforcement and individual rights is delicate, and changes to that balance demand close scrutiny.
“These changes introduce ambiguity into what should be a tightly regulated area of enforcement.
“They risk undermining trust in local authority investigations and could lead to a greater number of legal challenges, confusion and even misuse. We cannot and will not support provision that weakens accountability without offering clear safeguards in return.
“Powers of entry are intrusive by their nature. If they are to be exercised without prior warning, there must be rigorous justification, robust checks and balances and explicit limits to prevent overreach. That bar has not been met.”
He adds: “This bill is an opportunity to rebuild confidence across the housing system, but confidence rests on fairness. These amendments risk tipping the balance too far, undermining transparency and weakening the very safeguards that protect landlords and tenants alike.
“For those reasons, we will vote against this package of amendments and urge the government to reconsider their approach in this area.”
The House of Lords have passed the amendment, but it still needs approval from the House of Commons during the ‘ping pong’ stage, where amendments require agreement from both Houses before becoming part of the final legislation.
Intimidating for tenants
The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) have welcomed the changes, claiming having landlords at enforcement inspections is “intimidating for tenants.”
Mark Elliott, President of the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health, said: “We are delighted that the Government has recognised the need to remove this requirement, which has long been a barrier to effective enforcement of housing legislation.
“We have raised this issue with parliamentarians through our submissions on the Bill and as an agenda item for a ministerial meeting.
“The current requirement provides an opportunity for the landlord to appear at the inspection, which can be an intimidating experience for the tenant making the complaint.
“Local authorities should be able to conduct such visits without giving the landlord 24 hours’ notice, permitting private conversations with the tenant before the local authority contacts the landlord to notify them if works are required.”
Tags:
enforcement inspections, housing enforcement, landlord inspections, local authority powers, renters rights bill, Renters’ Rights amendments, surprise inspections
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Member Since July 2013 - Comments: 1996 - Articles: 21
1:01 PM, 17th July 2025, About 9 months ago
Reply to the comment left by Dylan Morris at 17/07/2025 – 12:33
My comment is satirical.
Member Since August 2016 - Comments: 1190
1:03 PM, 17th July 2025, About 9 months ago
Reply to the comment left by Ian Narbeth at 17/07/2025 – 13:01
👍
Member Since December 2024 - Comments: 62
1:08 PM, 17th July 2025, About 9 months ago
Why doesn’t the UK Government just get off people’s backs?
Member Since June 2022 - Comments: 2
1:22 PM, 17th July 2025, About 9 months ago
By 2028, I am going to sell up completely though my properties are pristine, furnished with John Lewis appliances. I also charge 20% below the market rent because I save by managing my own properties. One tenant leaving after 4 years said to my wife I couldn’t had better landlords. But being a landlord in Brent and Islington is a nightmare. The local authority combines incompetence with dishonesty, I will sell up, pay my CGT and move abroad. We’re not welcome in Britain any longer though we’re the kind of people who pick up other people’s litter in public spaces and look for a bin nearby;
Member Since October 2013 - Comments: 1630 - Articles: 3
2:42 PM, 17th July 2025, About 9 months ago
Reply to the comment left by Kalit Sengupta at 17/07/2025 – 13:22
We are seriously thinking about retirement in Dubai. My son has lived there for 20 years and is in real estate. I’m sure he could get us a good deal!
Member Since July 2013 - Comments: 1996 - Articles: 21
3:33 PM, 17th July 2025, About 9 months ago
Reply to the comment left by Kalit Sengupta at 17/07/2025 – 13:22Sad to hear your story. As reported today Angela Rayner displays her lack of understanding. Yes, rents are high. They will get higher because of Government policies. When there is a shortage of a good or service, providing more of it usually leads to price reduction or stabilisation. Reducing a supply that is already limited leads to a price increase.
There are some appalling landlords and they need to be brought to heel or put out of business but the constant persecution of all landlords by the powers that be and the vilification by much of the Press and the commentariat has, as in Kalit’s case, led to decent landlords quitting the market.
Nobody in Government or the Civil Service is asking: “How do we encourage landlords to provide more and better quality homes?” Instead it is “How can we trip them up? How can we punish them for minor mistakes? How can we extract money from them?”
Member Since May 2024 - Comments: 204
4:49 PM, 17th July 2025, About 9 months ago
I don’t have a problem of them showing up with 24 hours notice, but good luck to them if they think that the tenant will be there. I have to arrange a GSC a couple of weeks in advance.
I don’t think that will find any valid problems with the houses, but they will probably make up a few, just so they can say they have done their job and found an issue.
I bet that they don’t dare check their own houses..
Member Since July 2025 - Comments: 2
11:14 PM, 17th July 2025, About 9 months ago
If occupants/tenants are informed in advance, they could fabricate non-compliance. Landlords will be powerless to look after their own interests.
The assumption seems to be that landlords are intimidating and unscrupulous. Perhaps a tiny majority are. What about protecting landlords from unscrupulous tenants?
The whole direction of government policy; Tory and Labour seems to be one sided to score popularity points by demonising landlords.
The exposure (to being implicated by tenants) here is finally pushing me to sell. Evidence should not be open to contamination.
What do we do? Carry out regular inventories and dispute false findings? This is too intimidating for me to carry on as a landlord.
Member Since May 2024 - Comments: 204
6:12 PM, 18th July 2025, About 9 months ago
Reply to the comment left by Russell Singh at 17/07/2025 – 23:14
Russel, I’ve no idea on how bad its about to get. I’m hanging in there for now, hope you do the same.
I really do not want to let the government force me to sell up, but it’s getting close to it.
I’m going to hang on a bit longer and see what happens after the RRB and EPC C comes in.
I think the flood gates have already opened and I made a mistake of having most of my houses in 1 area.
Most are an EPC C, so some landlord may buy them with tenants in situ, but I don’t want to flood the market as it will just drive house prices down.
Trying to get them out is apparently a nightmare. I’m currently in touch with an eviction specialist about getting 1 tenant out and I never estimated the amount of details where a judge could throw out a case for repossession.
I’ve been jumping through hoops for the last month or 2, luckily for me it looks like the tenant is moving out without having to take it to court.
Member Since October 2024 - Comments: 188
8:38 AM, 19th July 2025, About 9 months ago
Reply to the comment left by Rob Thomas at 17/07/2025 – 10:48
Agreed. Good landlords need to be very cautious.
I just had a whole house refurbished, new kitchen, new main bathroom, new ensuite bathroom, painted walls, ceiling and all the woodwork, new laminate flooring downstairs and new carpets.
A valid EICR and boiler service and gas certificate done a few days before them moving. I met them 2.5 weeks before tenancy start date. They asked me what furniture they would get. I said new beds and mattresses, but 2nd hand settee as they saw it, fitted wardrobes and other wardrobes, side tables and chairs as they saw it. They wanted to know what about students desk, dining table and chairs. They asked for kettle, microwave etc. I said I only provide white goods for the kitchen. I said that the other furniture will be second hand from a charity shop. But in the end just a day before they were to move, we noticed the settee was full of satin wood paint. The painters never told me. As there were heavy cushions on it, I never knew. So we put it out and ordered a new one with dining table and chairs. There were already 4 chairs in the house. Being students and still living at home, did not move in, just collected keys from check in clerk. Then parents started to call me they want new furniture, office chairs etc. Also they are happy to buy but I have to reimburse them. I said no to all, but happy to provide anything second hand. The students desk arrived within a week. Then 10 days later they said, they wish to leave as the house is not fit for purpose, boiler does not work and electricity is not safe. I booked an electrician to go there. But that day they said they wish to leave and wish to have all the money back. When I started the boiler it started without fail. All a long I was being bullied by parents and the agent to provide office chairs and whatever the parents were asking. I knew this was wrong. I said I shall find their replacement and the tenancy is legally binding and they stay until new tenants are found. The agents will not help in finding replacement as they say time is not right for finding tenants so I shall have to complain about them. They will not pay back my fees either, as they asked the tenants to ask for a full refund. This was let only service. The tenants have also stated that they will complain to the council about the house being unfit purpose to live there this year. So this is what good landlords have to look for. This is a lot better house than others I have rented for same rent. The agent was aware of what furniture I would provide as he rented another house that hand all second furniture. But in answer to this never made sense to me. He said those tenants had to see it twice. So what? The tenants in newly furnished house saw it in March, paid the deposit based on the newly done fittings in the house. I requested to see the tenants so they know what they will get for furniture. Unfortunately that is how it will work for good landlords from now onwards. I have a mind to call the council myself and talk to them.