Penalties and fines – Renters' Rights Act Policy consultation

Consultation opened: Wednesday, 4 March 2026
Consultation closed: Tuesday, 31 March 2026

Civil penalties will fall into two main levels: up to £7,000 and up to £40,000, depending on the seriousness of the breach.

Penalties up to £7,000

These cover administrative or procedural failures and unlawful practices that affect transparency and fairness in the lettings process.

Examples include:

• not giving tenants, the required written terms or legal information
• trying to let or end a tenancy in ways that are not legally allowed
• serving eviction notices incorrectly
• failing to give tenants proper notice about possession grounds
• not providing tenants with updated legal information introduced by the Renters’ Rights Act 2025
• discriminating against tenants because they have children or receive benefits
• not stating rent clearly in adverts or encouraging “rent bidding”

Penalties up to £40,000

These apply to more serious breaches or offences, including those that put tenants’ safety or security at risk.

Examples include:

• failing to meet electrical safety standards
• unlawful eviction or harassment
• repeated offending behaviour after a previous penalty
• knowingly relying on false grounds to seek possession
• breaching rules on reletting or remarketing a property
• breaching a banning order
• failing to obtain required property licences (HMO or selective licences)
• failing to comply with improvement or overcrowding notices
• over occupation of a HMO
• failing to comply with HMO management or licence conditions

These offences can put tenants’ safety, security, and wellbeing at risk, and therefore carry higher penalties.

Multiple penalties

A separate penalty can be issued for each breach or offence, and each responsible landlord or agent can be penalised individually. This ensures fairness and encourages compliance across the sector.