Private Sector Housing Enforcement Policy
Councils are updating private housing enforcement policies to align with the Renters' Rights Act 2025, enhancing tenant protections and landlord compliance.
Hounslow Council adopted an updated Private Sector Housing Enforcement Policy in September 2026 to strengthen protections for private renters and tackle landlords who fail to meet legal responsibilities, as proposed by Councillor Marcela Benedetti. This follows Croydon Council's Cabinet approval of a new policy in July 2026, integrating existing enforcement measures with the Renters' Rights Act 2025 requirements.
Newham Council's Interim Chief Executive Paul Martin approved a revised policy in April 2026, effective from May 2026, to implement the Renters' Rights Act 2025. This policy includes a discretionary 10% uplift on civil penalty starting points to reflect Newham's higher-than-average rents, and aims to abolish Section 21 'no-fault' evictions and limit rent increases.
The Private Sector Housing Enforcement Policy guides councils in enforcing regulations within the private rented sector. The Renters' Rights Act 2025, which came into effect in May 2026, introduced new duties for local authorities to enforce legislation governing landlords, bringing major changes to tenancy rules and enhancing tenant security.
Key facts
- Hounslow Council adopted an updated Private Sector Housing Enforcement Policy in September 2026. Source
- Croydon Council's Cabinet approved a new Private Sector Housing Enforcement Policy on 29 July 2026. Source
- Newham Council's Interim Chief Executive Paul Martin approved a revised policy on April 29, 2026. Source 1 Source 2 Source 3
- The Renters' Rights Act 2025 came into effect on 1 May 2026. Source 1 Source 2 Source 3
- Newham's policy includes a discretionary 10% uplift on civil penalty starting points. Source 1 Source 2 Source 3
About this summary
This summary was written automatically from our published stories and the council meeting records they draw on. It describes what councils have discussed and decided; it does not take a view on any decision. Each key fact links to the story it comes from. Updated 30 September 2026. Spotted a mistake? Email community@opencouncil.network.