Landlords who fail to fix dangerous housing conditions, such as damp and mould, can now be fined up to £7,000 as new enforcement powers come into force. Starting Monday, June 22, local councils have been given strengthened authority to penalise landlords who leave tenants living in unsafe environments. The move is part of wider reforms aimed at improving standards in the private rented sector and cracking down on rogue landlords.
New Penalties for Serious Hazards
The new penalties apply to serious hazards in rental properties, including severe damp and mould, dangerously cold homes, structural defects, fire risks and faulty electrical systems. Councils will be able to issue fines directly, alongside existing powers to order repairs, carry out emergency work themselves and recover costs from landlords who fail to act. Housing Secretary Steve Reed has urged councils to make full use of the new measures. Writing to mayors across England, he called for swift action to protect renters from unsafe living conditions.
Government's Call for Swift Action
Reed said: “Renters deserve a safe, secure place to call home and our landmark Renters’ Rights Act gives councils more options to take speedy action against rogue landlords. These include the new power to issue a £7,000 penalty to a landlord when there is a hazard like severe damp or mould in a privately rented home - a situation that no family should have to live with.”
The fines come alongside an update to the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS), which is used by councils to assess risks in homes. The revised system is designed to make it easier for authorities to identify hazards and intervene more quickly to protect tenants, reports PA.
Campaigners Welcome Changes but Stress Enforcement
Housing campaigners have welcomed the changes but stressed that enforcement will be key. Ben Twomey, chief executive of Generation Rent, said: “Homes are the foundations of our lives and no renter should have to live alongside mould, dampness and other risks to our health. The council being given the power to fine landlords up to £7,000 if they ignore repairs is an essential step towards raising the quality of rented homes. For renters to feel the benefit, though, councils must seek out and take action against those landlords who ignore unsafe conditions and profit from misery.”
Clara Collingwood, director at the Renters’ Reform Coalition, added: “Homes are the foundation for our lives, but for far too long, hundreds of thousands of renters have been living in substandard homes that undermine our health and cause serious harm to children and vulnerable adults. It’s great that authorities have new powers to tackle this and they must start using them immediately to crack down on landlords who profit from unhealthy homes.”
Tenant Protections Strengthened
She also pointed to strengthened tenant protections, including the scrapping of so-called 'no-fault' evictions, which should make renters feel more confident about reporting problems. “With new rights and protections and section 21 evictions scrapped, we can’t be evicted for complaining and shouldn’t be afraid to report dodgy landlords to the council,” Clara said.
The Government hopes that tougher penalties, combined with updated safety standards, will raise housing quality and ensure renters are no longer forced to live in conditions that put their health and wellbeing at risk.
