A landlord compliance expert has warned that new landlord rules introduced under the Renters’ Rights Act could leave thousands of landlords facing fines — with councils now able to move straight to formal enforcement action without first issuing warnings.
According to Phil Turtle, director of Landlord Licensing & Defence, councils across England are already adopting tougher enforcement policies under the new landlord rules, with financial penalties ranging from up to £7,000 for relatively minor breaches to as much as £40,000 for the most serious offences.
But perhaps the most concerning figure is this:
England has an estimated 2.3 million private landlords, yet the government’s mandatory Renters’ Rights Act Information Sheet was downloaded just 153,000 times in the first four weeks after publication.
That means only around 6.6% of landlords appear to have downloaded one of the key documents linked to the new landlord legislation.
In simple terms, if landlords do not urgently familiarise themselves with the new landlord rules, as many as 93.4% could risk breaching legislation by 31st May — whether intentionally or not.
And under the tougher enforcement powers now available to councils, lack of awareness is unlikely to be accepted as a defence.
Councils Can Now Skip Warnings Under New Landlord Rules
Before the Renters’ Rights Act, councils would often begin with advisory letters, improvement notices, or informal warnings before escalating enforcement action.
However, many local authorities have updated their policies in line with the new landlord regulations.
For example, Portsmouth City Council states:
“Formal enforcement may now be taken more quickly, without a warning in some cases, especially where there are serious risks, clear legal breaches or repeat issues.”
For landlords, this represents a major shift in how landlord compliance rules are enforced.
Landlord Rules Are No Longer Just About Property Standards
Many landlords still believe landlord compliance mainly revolves around keeping properties safe and treating tenants fairly.
While those responsibilities remain essential, the Renters’ Rights Act introduces a far more procedural approach to landlord rules and enforcement.
That means landlords may now face penalties for issues such as:
- Failing to provide the mandatory Renters’ Rights Information Sheet correctly
- Not being able to prove service or receipt of documents
- Errors in tenancy paperwork
- Incorrect handling of deposits
- Licensing breaches
- Rent-in-advance breaches
- Tenant discrimination issues
- Mistakes in the order or timing of compliance steps
Critically, councils can impose multiple penalties at the same time if several breaches are identified during a single investigation.
A relatively small administrative oversight could therefore trigger combined fines worth tens of thousands of pounds.
What Landlords Must Do To Comply With The New Landlord Rules
With the new landlord rules now in force, landlords should urgently:
- Fully understand the Renters’ Rights Act requirements
- Ensure every required document has been correctly served
- Keep detailed records and proof of receipt
- Review deposits, licences, certificates and tenancy procedures
- Seek specialist advice before problems arise — not after receiving a formal notice
We have collected useful information about landlord compliance, including a template covering letter tenants can sign as proof of receipt, together with guidance outlining what landlords need to do under the new landlord rules.
👉 https://page.national-residential.co.uk/rra-compliance-checklist.html