Small landlords need support to adapt to Renters’ Rights Act – The Property Ombudsman
3 months ago | 10 comments
Government rules out enforcement powers for Housing Ombudsman
8:01 AM, 23rd June 2026, 3 weeks ago
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The government has confirmed the Housing Ombudsman can not take enforcement action against social housing landlords.
In a written Parliamentary question, Labour MP Neil Coyle asked whether the government would consider allowing the Housing Ombudsman to issue fines for maladministration by housing providers.
He suggested this could compensate tenants, require implementation of recommendations, and help cover some of the Ombudsman’s costs.
Not appropriate to take enforcement action
Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook said: “The Housing Ombudsman is an independent and impartial adjudicator, investigating and resolving individual complaints between social housing residents and their landlords.
“To maintain that independence and fairness, it is not appropriate for the Ombudsman to take enforcement action against social housing landlords.
“Instead, where it identifies evidence of a failure at the landlord level, it can refer matters to the independent Regulator of Social Housing, which is responsible for setting standards that landlords are required to meet and assessing how far landlords are delivering the outcomes of those standards. The Regulator can take regulatory or enforcement action where necessary.”
The news comes as the Housing Ombudsman has set out its plans to tackle a rise in complaint cases involving social housing landlords.
Over the last five years, the Ombudsman has seen more than a 500% increase in cases, reaching more than 13,000 last year.
Tags:
enforcement action against social housing landlords, housing ombudsman, Matthew Pennycook, social housing landlords, social housing sector
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Unauthorised pets in rental property?
Member Since December 2023 - Comments: 1632
8:49 AM, 23rd June 2026, About 3 weeks ago
Matthew Pennycook talks sense.
Now, how about maintaining the independence of Local Authorities when penalising landlords?
Member Since September 2018 - Comments: 3663 - Articles: 5
9:16 AM, 23rd June 2026, About 3 weeks ago
Reply to the comment left by Cider Drinker at 23/06/2026 – 08:49
My thoughts exactly!
I see no reason why a PRS LL could not make a counter claim against the LA on basis that ‘independence and fairness’ cannot be achieved/qualified because the LA is neither independent nor impartial. Furthermore they ultimately stand to financially gain from any enforcement.
Member Since October 2019 - Comments: 423
12:37 PM, 23rd June 2026, About 3 weeks ago
One rule for them, another rule for everyone else!
Member Since April 2018 - Comments: 499
1:08 PM, 23rd June 2026, About 3 weeks ago
Summed up nicely.Why is it Social Housing landlords are exempt from any financial or other action.These are exactly the landlords causing the most problems,.Nothing will have changed for these tenants following the RRA. A scandal.
Member Since September 2023 - Comments: 26
2:14 PM, 23rd June 2026, About 3 weeks ago
Reply to the comment left by Reluctant Landlord at 23/06/2026 – 09:16
This is exactly the action that the NRLA should be taking, protecting it’s members, who do after all pay all of their salaries! Bankrupt left wing local authorities with a new stream of income from “evil landlords”. What could go wrong?
Member Since August 2025 - Comments: 55
5:32 AM, 24th June 2026, About 3 weeks ago
All these changes and punishing private sector was not sensible move in the first place. The economy is in a bad shape because the landlords are not investing .and further in the pipe line a property tax .all of this and putting tenants at non fault even if your property is getting abused,can anyone explain why any landlord should invest in property? We think the result of these one-sided laws and mistakes made by people in authoroty will soon start to show devastating results back to them.
JOE
Member Since September 2018 - Comments: 3663 - Articles: 5
9:14 AM, 24th June 2026, About 3 weeks ago
Reply to the comment left by Dev S at 24/06/2026 – 05:32
I agree. What IS the end goal here?
Every plan/action/decision has and equal and opposite reaction.
Instead of blaming those who do house people and making then harder to carry on doing what they are doing, only reduces supply.
Its not even about the B2R coming in and displacing the PRS landlords – they are one and the same. A corporate may be a bigger fish, but once the pond is polluted it kills all fish alike no matter what the size.
Underlying issue is we have a Socialist/Marxist gvt in power whom are ideologically ingrained. Socialist fundamentalists. No one should ever have more than another – except of course those who are entrusted to run the system – after all they are only doing this to help everyone else….
The Mad Marxist Mancunian replaces the passive, flip flopping, bland chancer. Overall result – the same.