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New £7,000 Landlord Fines in England: What Councils Can Penalise You For in 2026
From Monday 22 June 2026, councils across England gained a new power: civil penalties of up to £7,000 for landlords who fail to fix serious hazards in private rented homes. It is part of the wider Renters' Rights Act enforcement package, and Housing Secretary Steve Reed has urged local authorities to act.
If you self-manage even one buy-to-let, walk every property against the updated HHSRS before a council officer does. The final framework comes into force on 23 June 2026.
Key facts at a glance
- Penalty: Up to £7,000 for Category 1 hazards
- Scope: England, private rented sector
- In force: 22 June 2026
- Enforced by: Local council environmental health teams
- Also available: Repair orders, emergency works, cost recovery
Quick watch: 5 Renters' Rights Act compliance essentials
What changed on 22 June?
Councils can now issue civil penalties without going to court first. The £7,000 fine applies when a hazard reaches Category 1, the most dangerous level under HHSRS. With Section 21 abolished, tenants can report disrepair without fear of a no-fault eviction, and councils are under pressure to act.
These fines sit inside a much wider enforcement push under the Renters' Rights Act. Landlords also face up to £7,000 for failing to serve the mandatory paperwork to existing tenants, not just for property condition breaches. Our step-by-step guide on the Renters rights act information sheet 2026 shows how to deliver it correctly and prove your tenant actually received it.
The 21 hazards councils can fine you for
Fines apply to Category 1 hazards only. Council officers assess risk using the updated HHSRS, simplified from 29 hazard types down to 21. The government has highlighted severe damp and mould, broken boilers in freezing weather, faulty electrics, fire risks and structural problems.
| Area | Category 1 examples |
|---|---|
| Damp and heating | Severe damp/mould, broken boiler, excess cold |
| Fire and electrical | Fire hazards, faulty electrics, lack of alarms |
| Structure and layout | Collapse risk, unsafe stairs, poor layout |
| Health and environment | Carbon monoxide, asbestos, poor water supply, noise, lighting |
Inspections can follow a tenant complaint, a council programme or a follow-up on a previous notice.
Your repair obligations as a landlord
Under Section 9A of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, your property must be fit for human habitation throughout the tenancy. That means maintaining the structure, exterior, drains, gutters, and all installations for water, gas, electricity, sanitation and heating.
Your periodic tenancy agreement sets out these duties clearly. Read our breakdown of landlord repair and maintenance obligations under the Renters' Rights Act.
- Respond to repair reports within 24 to 48 hours and log every message
- Use qualified tradespeople and fix damp at source, not with cosmetic cover-ups
- Keep before-and-after photos on file
Watch: maintenance logs and tenant communication on Lendlord
How £7,000 fits the wider penalty landscape
Several Renters' Rights Act offences carry the same £7,000 maximum, not just property condition breaches.
| Breach | Maximum penalty |
|---|---|
| Category 1 HHSRS hazard (new) | £7,000 |
| Failure to serve Information Sheet | £7,000 |
| Misuse of possession grounds | £40,000 |
| Missing EICR | Up to £30,000 |
| Missing Gas Safety Certificate | Up to £6,000 |
Short: another £7,000 fine landlords are talking about
Five steps to protect your portfolio
- Walk every property. Check heating, electrics, damp patches, alarms and structure before a council officer does.
- Keep certificates current. Gas Safety annually, EICR every five years, valid EPC on file. Use automated compliance alerts for safety certificates so nothing slips past expiry.
- Build a repair workflow. One place for tenant maintenance requests and your responses, with timestamps on every interaction.
- Act fast on damp and mould. Investigate within days. Commission a damp survey if the cause is not obvious.
- Keep an audit-ready file. Certificates, repair logs, tenant communications and inspection photos in one folder per property.
Manage compliance, repairs and tenant communications in one place.
Start free with LendlordFrequently asked questions
The new civil penalty power for Category 1 HHSRS hazards took effect in England on 22 June 2026.
No. This article covers England only. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have separate housing enforcement regimes.
Yes. These are civil penalties issued directly by councils. You may be able to appeal or request a review depending on your local authority's procedure.
Same maximum amount, different breach. The Information Sheet fine relates to paperwork. The new HHSRS fines relate to serious physical hazards such as damp, mould and faulty electrics.
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