Issue - meetings

Executive Summary

The Renters’ Rights Act 2025 introduces major reforms to landlord and tenant law, significantly expanding the duties and enforcement responsibilities of local authorities.

To ensure North Norfolk District Council can lawfully implement these new powers from 1 May 2026, including enhanced investigatory powers, new tenancy rights, and extended civil penalty provisions, a new Housing Standards Enforcement Policy and the Civil Penalties Policy must be in place.

The policies will set out how the Council will apply these new statutory duties, including enforcing new offences, applying increased penalty thresholds, and ensuring consistent and transparent decision making.

Options considered

The only alternative is to continue with current policies, but this would be unlawful after 1 May 2026.

Consultation(s)

As these changes are in response to legislation, there is no requirement to hold a public consultation, and the law has now been enacted with an effective date of 1^st May 2026.

Recommendations

Cabinet is recommended to:

(a) Approve the contents of the new Housing Standards Enforcement Policy, attached as Appendix 1 and agree that this policy shall be implemented and take effect from the 1st of May 2026.

(b) Grant delegated authority to Assistant Director People Services, to make where necessary any minor amendments and updates to the Housing Standards Enforcement Policy required, to reflect any organisational or further legislative changes which take place following implementation.

(c) Approve the Civil Penalties Policy, attached as Appendix 2 and agree that this policy shall be implemented and take effect from the 1st of May 2026.

(d) Grant delegated authority to the Assistant Director for People Services and Assistant Director Environmental & Leisure Services in consultation with the relevant Portfolio Holder, to make where necessary any minor amendments and updates to the Civil Penalties Policy required, to reflect any organisational or further legislative changes which take place following implementation.

Reasons for recommendations

The adoption of these two new policies in place of the Council’s current policies is required to enable the Council to undertake its new duties under the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 from 1^st May 2026.

Background papers

To assist local authorities in understanding their new rights and responsibilities under the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 the Government has published a new collection of statutory and other related guidance for local authorities which can be found here: Renters' Rights Act: guidance for local authorities and councils - GOV.UK

Wards affected

All Wards

Cabinet member(s)

Cllr. Callum Ringer

Cllr. Jill Boyle

Contact Officer

Emily Capps and Trudi Grant