Councils across England will gain a new power to issue landlords fines of up to £7,000
Landlords across England now face fines of up to £7,000 if they fail to tackle serious hazards in their rental properties under a new Labour crackdown.
The tougher enforcement powers come into force today and are designed to target rogue landlords who leave tenants living in unsafe or unhealthy conditions.
Local authorities can now issue financial penalties of up to £7,000 where landlords fail to address significant hazards in privately rented homes.
These include severe damp and mould, excess cold, structural defects, fire safety risks and dangerous electrical faults.
Housing Secretary Steve Reed has written to mayors across England urging councils to make full use of the new powers and take swift action against landlords who allow dangerous conditions to persist.
The measures form part of the Government's Renters' Rights Act, which ministers have described as landmark legislation aimed at strengthening protections for tenants.
The new penalties sit alongside existing enforcement powers available to councils, including ordering landlords to carry out repairs, undertaking emergency works themselves and recovering the costs from landlords who fail to act.
Mr Reed said: "Renters deserve a safe, secure place to call home and our landmark Renters' Rights Act gives councils more options to take speedy action against rogue landlords."
He added that the £7,000 fines would help tackle conditions "that no family should have to live with."
The Government is also revising the Housing Health and Safety Rating System, with the updated framework becoming operational on Tuesday.
The changes aim to help councils identify risks more efficiently and respond swiftly to protect tenants across all housing types.
Tenant advocacy groups have welcomed the new enforcement powers while stressing the need for councils to act decisively.
Ben Twomey, chief executive of Generation Rent, said: "The council being given the power to fine landlords up to £7,000 if they ignore repairs is an essential step towards raising the quality of rented homes.
"For renters to feel the benefit, though, councils must seek out and take action against those landlords who ignore unsafe conditions and profit from misery."
Clara Collingwood, director at the Renters' Reform Coalition, said: "It's great that authorities have new powers to tackle this, and they must start using them immediately to crack down on landlords who profit from unhealthy homes."
She noted that with section 21 evictions abolished, tenants can now report problems without fearing retaliatory eviction.
The National Residential Landlords Association has expressed support for the measures while defending the sector's overall standards.
Ben Beadle, the organisation's chief executive, said: "The overwhelming majority of landlords provide good quality and safe housing."
He noted that improved guidance developed in collaboration with the Government would help landlords and tenants identify and address hazards promptly.
Mr Beadle said: "Good landlords, who meet standards and undertake repairs swiftly, will be unaffected by these tough penalties.
"But those criminal landlords, who undermine the reputation of all those who do the right thing, will feel the full force of the law."
He called on ministers to introduce policies supporting responsible landlords in providing quality rental accommodation.