Landlords who fail to fix serious hazards in rental properties now face major financial penalties.
From Monday, councils across England will gain a new power to issue landlords fines of up to £7,000 for serious hazards in private renters’ homes.
Including severe damp and mould, freezing temperatures, structural issues, fire hazards, and faulty electrics.
The new penalty is part of wider efforts to improve housing standards under the Renters’ Rights Act.
Landlords could face £7,000 if they don't fix serious home hazards
Housing Secretary Steve 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.
“These include the new power to issue a £7,000 penalty to a landlord when there is a hazard like severe damp or mould in a privately rented home – a situation that no family should have to live with."
The measures come alongside updates to the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS), which comes into force on Tuesday.
The revised HHSRS is designed to help councils identify hazards more quickly and take action to protect tenants across all types of housing.
Councils also retain existing powers to force repairs, carry out emergency works, and reclaim costs from landlords who fail to act.
Ben Twomey, chief executive of Generation Rent, said: "Homes are the foundations of our lives, and no renter should have to live alongside mould, dampness and other risks to our health.
“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."
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Clara Collingwood, director at the Renters’ Reform Coalition, welcomed the new powers.
She 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.
"And now that we have new rights as renters, we need to use them – any tenant living with serious disrepair or damp and mould should know they don’t have to put up with it any longer."
