English councils may fine landlords without warning under new Renters' Rights Act

The Renters' Rights Act, which took effect on 1 May, allows English local councils to move directly to formal enforcement against landlords, removing the previous requirement to issue a warning first. Council policies, such as Portsmouth City Council’s guidance, state that enforcement can be taken “more quickly, without a warning in some cases” when there are serious risks, clear legal breaches, or repeat issues.

Penalties under the new regime range from up to £7,000 for lower‑level breaches to as much as £40,000 for the most serious offences, and councils may issue multiple fines in a single inspection. Legal experts warn many landlords remain unfamiliar with the new tenancy‑management and discrimination rules and urge them to check compliance now to avoid rapid enforcement actions.