Renters' Rights Act: The rules that landlords must follow to avoid a £7,000 fine
New rights for renters took effect from 1 May and councils have new powers to ensure landlords are following the rules.
Councils have been given new powers to fine landlords up to £7,000 if they fail to fix poor housing conditions in their properties in the latest stage of the government’s rental reforms.
Large parts of the government’s Renters’ Rights Act have come into force, including a ban on so-called “no-fault” evictions, an automatic switch to rolling contracts and limits on how often rents can be increased.
Landlords had until 31 May to hand over the government’s Renters’ Rights Act Information Sheet 2026 document, detailing the changes to tenants or risk a £7,000 fine.
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In the latest change as of 22 June, councils can now take stronger action where landlords fail to fix problems, alongside existing enforcement powers.
Fines of up to £7,000 can be issued if landlords refuse to fix poor conditions.
The fine will apply to 21 types of hazards that are found to be serious - the most dangerous level - which include freezing conditions, faulty electrics, fire hazards, structural issues and unsafe layouts.
The new penalty sits alongside existing powers councils can use to tackle unsafe homes that put tenants at risk. These include forcing repairs, carrying out emergency works and recovering costs from landlords who fail to act.
The landmark reforms have raised fears already squeezed landlords, particularly those on a small-scale, have been given more reason to abandon the market and sell up.
Landlords can be fined up to £7,000 for failure to comply.
But these aren’t the only compliance failures that could result in a fine.
What other rules will landlords need to follow?
Beyond providing the tenancy information sheet, there are other rules that landlords have to follow or face a fine for breaching.
Landlords can’t ask for or accept rent from a tenant before a tenancy agreement has been signed between both parties.
Landlords also cannot stop someone from viewing or renting a property just because they are on benefits or have children.
Rental properties also have to be advertised with asking prices, while landlords are banned from encouraging people to bid higher than this advertised price.
There will also eventually be a register that landlords need to sign up to or they will face a fine. A date for this hasn’t been set yet.
Councils will be responsible for issuing fines and there could be higher charges for repeated failures and landlords could even be banned for serious breaches.
Landlords ignoring the rules can be reported by their tenants or found through council inspections.
There are more changes coming as well as part of the wider rental reforms.
By the end of 2028, it will be mandatory for landlords to be members of a new Landlord Ombudsman and to be on the private rented sector (PRS) database before they can even list a property for rent.
Failure to register to the new PRS Database and ombudsman could lead to an up to £7,000 civil fine, or up to £40,000 repeat fine.
Additionally, the minimum requirement for Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) is due to rise from E to C in October 2030, while the full Decent Homes Standard will be introduced in 2035.
Under the standard, properties must be free from hazards, in a reasonable state of repair and with reasonable services such as a kitchen and bathroom and free from damp or mould.
Landlords can be fined up to £30,000 if their rental properties are found to be below the Decent Homes Standard.
If you are renting your property through a lettings agent, it is worth checking with them if you are compliant.
Lettings agency Kinleigh Folkard & Hayward suggests keeping clear records of agreements, inspections and communications, adding: “A well-organised system can make compliance easier and support positive tenant interactions, including maintenance requests. Landlords may find it beneficial to work with partner agents who offer online software to help with record keeping and to manage the additional requirements.”
Rob Norton, UK director at property software brand PlanRadar, said: “As the new rules come into force, landlords and property managers will face significantly greater pressure to evidence activity across their portfolios in real time. Every inspection, repair and tenant interaction will need to be accurately recorded and easily accessible.
“However, many are still relying on disconnected systems to manage these processes, creating gaps in visibility and increasing the risk of disputes or delays.
“As a result, we’re likely to see an acceleration in the shift towards digital tools that provide a clear audit trail and a single source of truth across assets. In an increasingly regulated environment, that level of oversight is becoming essential.”
