Hounslow Council has strengthened its commitment to protecting private renters by adopting an updated Private Sector Housing Enforcement Policy. The policy equips the council with enhanced powers to tackle landlords who fail to meet their legal responsibilities.
Councillor Marcela Benedetti, who proposed the motion, highlighted the significant number of residents living in the private rented sector in Hounslow, stating that everyone deserves the security of a safe, affordable and secure home.
She drew on her own experiences as a private renter and her work in the domestic abuse sector to emphasize the need for robust protections.
The Renters' Rights Act, described as the most significant strengthening of renters' rights in a generation,
introduces measures such as an end to no fault
evictions, stronger protections against unfair evictions, an end to exploitative bidding wars, and a ban on discrimination against families with children and those in receipt of benefits. The Act also grants tenants stronger rights to keep pets.
Under Section 107 of the Act, local housing authorities like Hounslow have new statutory duties to investigate and enforce landlord legislation. Hounslow Council has received £381,831 in new burdens funding from the government to support the implementation of the Act, which will be used for officer training, recruitment, and IT improvements.
The updated policy introduces tougher enforcement measures, including civil penalties of up to £7,000 for unlawful discrimination and up to £40,000 for landlords operating dangerous, overcrowded, or unlicensed Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs). The council can also use stronger Rent Repayment Orders, allowing tenants to recover up to two years' rent for serious housing offences. These measures go beyond the examples of dangerous, overcrowded, or unlicensed HMOs, and also include unlawful discrimination against families with children. Furthermore, the council is committed to introducing Selective Landlord Licensing where appropriate, which would require licence holders to prove they are fit and proper landlords while also ensuring mandatory safety conditions are met.
Councillor Tom Bruce, who seconded the motion, emphasized the council's ongoing efforts to combat rogue landlords. In the past six months, fines totalling £180,000 were issued to landlords and letting agencies for breaches of property standards, and a landlord was successfully prosecuted, ordered to pay over £81,000. The council has also introduced additional HMO licensing across the entire borough, requiring landlords to manage waste recycling and reduce fly-tipping and vermin. Enforcement officers now have the power to conduct inspections without prior notice, making it harder for landlords to conceal safety issues.
The council also resolved to publicise successful enforcement actions as a deterrent and continue investing in effective enforcement, staff capacity, and modern systems. Awareness campaigns will be launched to inform tenants of their new rights and how to report poor housing conditions or unlawful landlord practices. Proactive work will continue to support responsible landlords and improve standards across the private rented sector, including the potential implementation of selective licensing in areas with poor housing conditions or high levels of antisocial behaviour. The council aims to balance these proactive support measures with its robust and proportionate use of enhanced enforcement powers against non-compliant landlords, though specific mechanisms for this balance are not detailed.
This updated policy and the implementation of the Renters' Rights Act represent a significant step forward in protecting private renters in Hounslow. The full details of the council's approach can be found in the Public reports pack Tuesday 15-Sep-2026 Borough Council.
