As of April 6th landlords will start to be issued with civil penalty notices for housing regulation breaches according to the Residential Landlords Association (RLA).
Local authorities could implement fines of up to £30,000 for a range of offences, under the Housing Act 2004, including include failing to comply with an improvement notice served by the council, and breaches of HMO licensing, HMO management, selective licensing and overcrowding rules.
Landlords will be given notice of intent to serve penalty and 28 days to ‘make representation’. The council would then make a decision as to whether to impose a penalty, after which the landlord has 28 days to pay or appeal to the first tier tribunal
The RLA has welcomed the introduction of the civil penalties system however, it has concerns over how it will operate as the government has yet to issue official guidance on how the scheme will be implemented by local authorities.
