Greenwich Council has significantly bolstered its enforcement measures for private housing with the adoption of an amended Private Sector Housing Enforcement Policy for 2026 to 2029. The policy, agreed upon by the Cabinet on Wednesday, 23 September 2026, aims to ensure private rented properties meet required standards and introduces a revised schedule of financial penalties.
The updated policy reflects expanded Private Housing duties introduced by the Renters Rights Act 2025, alongside changes to the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS), the London Remediation Acceleration Plan (LRAP), and statutory guidance. It outlines the Council's approach to identifying, investigating, and enforcing breaches of legislation, including the application of fees and financial penalties.
Councillor Joshua Ayodele, Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Integrated Enforcement, emphasised the importance of these policies in maintaining property standards. These policies are crucial for ensuring private rented properties meet required standards,
he stated.
Revised Financial Penalties and Appeals
The revised schedule of financial penalties sees the maximum Civil Penalty Notice (CPN) value increase from £30,000 to £40,000. The Council proposes adopting a CPN framework recommended by the Association of Chief Environmental Health Officers (ACHEO) to ensure national comparability and defensibility in appeals. A 25% discount on CPN fees will be offered for payments made within the 28-day appeal period.
Furthermore, a new Civil Penalties Collection, Recovery and Instalments Policy is proposed to standardise the collection of CPN charges and enforce payments from debtors who fail to adhere to agreed instalments. Typically, CPNs should be paid in full within 12 months, with an initial 20% payment due upfront. The 25% early payment discount will not apply to instalment plans.
Landlords facing a final notice have the right to appeal to the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) against the decision to impose a civil penalty or its amount. Appeals must be lodged within 28 days of receiving the final notice.
Communication and Impact
Greenwich Council has actively engaged with landlords, residents, and other stakeholders regarding the changes introduced by the Renters' Rights Act 2025. This engagement has included landlord forums, website updates, social media communications, and the promotion of government guidance. The Council anticipates that these strengthened enforcement measures will lead to improved quality of private rented accommodation in Greenwich by ensuring clear requirements, processes, and procedures for private housing enforcement duties.
The current Private Housing Enforcement Policy, last updated in October 2024, was deemed out of date, necessitating this revision. The full details of the amended policy can be found in the Public reports pack 23rd-Sep-2026 14.00 Cabinet.