Councils urged to take proactive approach to enforcement

The government has claimed councils “should take a proactive approach to enforcement” under the Renters’ Rights Act.

In a written parliamentary answer, Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Housing, Baroness Taylor of Stevenage, said the government aims to establish a “sustainable funding system for enforcement”.

The news comes after a landlord expert warned that councils no longer need to warn landlords before issuing fines under the new legislation.

Councils can issue fines

Under the act, councils have the power to carry out surprise inspections, including entering premises where tenancy records are kept, and to issue fines running into thousands of pounds.

Landlords also face a triple whammy of fees to register their properties under the Renters’ Rights Act.

As reported by The Telegraph, those in selective licensing areas could be required to pay hundreds of pounds to register with a selective licensing scheme, the Private Rented Sector (PRS) Database, and the PRS Ombudsman.

Baroness Taylor of Stevenage confirmed councils have been given millions of pounds by the government for enforcement.

Provide funding support for new burdens

Baroness Taylor of Stevenage said: “We have allocated the £41.12 million new burdens funding for 2026-27 to support the enforcement of measures in the Renters’ Rights Act, based broadly on private rented sector stock levels per local housing authority, with a small proportion allocated to local weights and measures authorities, typically the local trading standards department, to cover their additional responsibilities in enforcing the rent in advance measure.

“New burdens funding for 2026-27 follows new burdens funding of £18.2 million to local housing authorities in 2025-26 allocated according to the level private rented sector stock in each authority. We are committed to providing funding support for new burdens throughout this spending period.”

She added: “The Renters’ Rights Act places a new duty on local housing authorities to take enforcement action where they suspect non-compliance. Whilst local authorities are best placed to decide the most effective way to enforce the measures in the Act, we expect councils to take a proactive approach to enforcement.

“Our aim is to establish a sustainable funding system for enforcement over the long term based on future Private Rented Sector Database fee revenues.”

Under the act, all landlords must register in the database, which will include information about their properties that tenants can access.