Managing a tenancy - information for landlords

Contents

• How it works
• Starting a tenancy
• During a tenancy
• Ending a tenancy and eviction
• Support for landlords
• Local authority enforcement

Local authority enforcement

On or after 1 May 2026, you could be given a financial penalty of up to £7,000 if you do one or more of the following:  

• claim to let the property on a fixed-term tenancy instead of a rolling tenancy, for example, by adding an end date  
• claim to end a tenancy verbally  
• require a tenancy to be ended verbally  
• fail to give a tenant written notice that a specified ground might be used where this is required by law - for example, Ground 1B, sale of dwelling-house after rent to buy agreement   
• fail to give a written statement of terms containing the information required by regulations  
• fail to give existing tenants an information sheet which tells them about changes made by the act   
• use a possession ground in a section 8 notice, ‘purported’ notice of possession or claim form when you do not reasonably believe that a possession order will be granted by the court on that ground  
• try to end the tenancy using a ‘notice to quit’ or purported notice of possession  

See: Renting out your property: guidance for landlords and letting agents - Enforcement measures for landlords - Guidance - GOV.UK

Enforcement action based on invalid notices of possession will not usually be taken if it was clear that there was a simple mistake (such as a spelling error) it would otherwise be a valid section 8 notice. You will need to use the correct process if you want a tenant to leave. 

Offences

On or after 1 May 2026, you could be prosecuted or given a financial penalty of up to £40,000  if you are found to have done one or more of the following: 

• relet or remarketed a property within the 12 month no relet and remarketing ‘restricted period’ after using statutory grounds for possession 1 or 1A, unless you took all reasonable steps not to, or an exception applies  
• knowingly used a ground for possession despite knowing that a court would not order possession on it, or being reckless about that, resulting in the tenant leaving within 4 months without an order for possession being made 
• committed a breach within 5 years of a previous offence  
• committed a breach within 5 years of receiving a financial penalty for a previous breach that has not been withdrawn 
• continued to commit a breach for more than 28 days after receiving a financial penalty for that breach that has not been withdrawn and is not the subject of an ongoing appeal

Exceptions to the 12 month no re-let and remarketing ‘restricted period’

The 12-month restricted period following use of possession grounds 1 or 1A will not apply or will end early if: 

• you or a close family member moves in and use the property as an only or main home 
• a licence to occupy is entered into where the licensee has agreed to buy the property or lease it for more than 21 years 
• the new lease being marketed or granted will be for more than 21 years 
• the court makes an order for possession of the property on a ground other than Ground 1 or 1A 

Remarketing will include:  

• advertising that the property is or may be available to let, for example, posting an advert online 
• conducting letting agency work, telling someone that the property is or may be available to let  

Enforcement

For any breaches or offences, we may impose a financial penalty on you, your letting agent or anyone acting on your behalf (other than a qualified legal representative) if we are satisfied that a breach or offence has taken place.