Statutory guidance

Civil penalties under the Housing and Planning Act 2016

Statutory guidance for local housing authorities on civil penalties.

Applies to England

Documents

Civil penalties under the Housing and Planning Act 2016

Request an accessible format.
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email alternativeformats@communities.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Details

Guidance to help local authorities use their powers to impose a civil penalty as an alternative to prosecution for certain housing offences.

The Housing and Planning Act 2016 provides powers that permit local authorities to impose a civil penalty of up to £30,000 as an alternative to prosecution for a range of offences under the Housing Act 2004, and where a landlord or property agent has breached a banning order under the Housing and Planning Act 2016.

Civil penalties for certain housing offences came into force on 6 April 2017. The guidance has been updated to reflect that from 6 April 2018 a civil penalty can also be imposed for breach of a banning order.

We have also published guidance on:

Published 6 April 2017
Last updated 6 April 2018 + show all updates
  1. The guidance has been updated to reflect that from 6 April 2018 a civil penalty can also be imposed for breach of a banning order.

  2. First published.