Issue - decisions

To approve changes to the following adopted policies to incorporate Section 6A, which was inserted by Schedule 4 (Paragraph 6) of the Renters' Rights Act 2025 on 22 June 2026:

1. Private Sector Housing Enforcement Policy, adopted 14/04/2026 – Cabinet; and

2. Civil Penalty Notice Policy under The Housing and Planning Act 2016 and the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020, adopted 16/09/2025 - Cabinet

Section 6A grants local housing authorities the power to impose financial penalties of up to £7,000 on landlords or responsible persons who fail to remove Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) Category 1 hazards in qualifying residential premises. This provision targets landlords directly when their properties fail to meet certain required standards or contain Category 1 hazards, and it would have been reasonably practicable for them to fix the issue.

The revised Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) assessment framework for Category 1 hazards came into force on 23 June 2026.