Landlords warned as local councils crack down on compliance

Local councils are being given new powers to investigate landlords from 27 December 2025.

It will be easier for them to inspect landlords’ properties and request documents, with the aim of cracking down on rogue landlords.

Authorities will also have a stronger duty to proactively enforce landlord legislation. As a result, more fines could be given for non-compliance with things like licensing schemes and the right to rent scheme.

New investigatory powers – is this the start of the Renters’ Rights Act?

Strengthening local authority enforcement is one of the 12 key measures of the Renters’ Rights Act.

And while the majority of new laws will start on 1 May 2026, the government’s Renters’ Rights Act roadmap confirms that these new investigatory powers will come into effect on 27 December 2025.

Local authority enforcement – what’s changing?

Councils are being given more power and encouragement to investigate landlord compliance.

Under the new rules, they’ll be able to:

request information from anyone involved in a tenancy (such as a landlord or letting agent) – this could include documents such as tenancy agreements or licensing certificates
set formal deadlines for information requests
inspect premises where records are held
seize devices holding tenancy records or make copies of relevant documents

Authorities will be able to look back a full 12 months, which means they’ll be able to investigate 2025 compliance during 2026.

What documents can councils ask for as part of a compliance investigation?

From 27 December 2025, councils investigating compliance will be able to ask landlords (or those associated with a tenancy) for a range of documents. These could include:

tenancy documents, such as tenancy agreements or deposit protection certificates
financial records, such as rent payment records or arrears information
Safety documents, such as gas safety certificates or Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs)
third-party documents, such as contractor invoices or inventory reports

What are the enforcement penalties for non-compliance?

Landlords could be hit with civil penalties of up to £7,000 for a standard breach of the rules or first offence.

For a serious or repeat offence, the fine could be up to £40,000.

Here are some examples of the fines landlords could receive:

Housing Act 1988 breaches and offences

serving a possession notice that attempts to end the tenancy outside of the Section 8 process – £6,000

attempting to end a tenancy by service of a notice to quit – £6,000

Housing Act 2004 breaches and offences

failure to comply with an improvement notice – £25,000
property subject to selective licensing is unlicensed – £12,000

Housing and Planning Act 2016 offences

breaching a banning order – £35,000

Renters’ Rights Act 2025 breaches

discrimination against those on benefits or with children – £6,000
encouraging or accepting any offer of rent greater than the advertised rate – £4,000

See a full list of fines and more about how civil penalties are changing as a result of the Renters’ Rights Act on the government website.

How can landlords prepare for these changes?

If your local authority requests documents or information, it’s best to be prepared. Being able to provide the right information before a deadline could be the difference between receiving a fine or not.

So, ahead of the new system, make sure you:

speak to your letting agent if you use one
get your rental documents and records in order
check local licensing schemes
make sure you’re compliant with all safety measures, such as gas safety

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