- Enforced by
- Local Authority, RSH, Fire and Rescue Authority
- Status
- Amended (in force with amendments)
- Penalty ceiling
- Imprisonment 13 of 85 obligations carry an unlimited fine. 6 carry different penalties and 66 have no criminal penalty — flagged in the list below.
Does it bind you?
Business-side roles with duties under this instrument.
Plus 44 duties on the regulator, Crown ministers and public bodies — folded into the section list below.
Other Acts binding the same actors
If a role above is yours, these are the other instruments that most often bind it.
Any Person — also bound by 2684 other Acts
Landlord — also bound by 238 other Acts
Director or Officer — also bound by 482 other Acts
Occupier — also bound by 246 other Acts
Licence Holder — also bound by 245 other Acts
What it requires
Sections creating concrete business duties or carrying penalties, grouped as the instrument is structured. Titles link to the source text — blue means you’re leaving for legislation.gov.uk.
Housing conditions
11 of 57 sections shownOther duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Local authorities must review housing conditions and HMO licensing needsLocal authority
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Local authorities must inspect properties for health and safety hazardsLocal authority
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Local Authority must include specific details in housing improvement noticesLocal authority
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Local Authority must issue prohibition orders for serious housing hazardsLocal authority
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Local Authority must issue detailed Prohibition Orders for housing hazardsLocal authority
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Local Authority must review suspended prohibition orders annuallyLocal authority
- Fail to comply with improvement noticeAny Person
- Fail to comply with a prohibition orderAny Person
- Use premises in breach of a prohibition orderAny Person
Unlimited fine
- Fail to comply with court order allowing housing improvement workOccupier
- Fail to comply with court order to allow action on premisesOccupier
Unlimited fine
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Local Authority must issue a detailed notice after emergency remedial actionLocal authority
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Local authorities must issue detailed Emergency Prohibition OrdersLocal authority
46 other sections in this Part — procedural and definitional
Licensing of houses in multiple occupation
6 of 26 sections shownOther duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Local authorities must follow specific criteria before licensing rental areasLocal authority
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Local authorities must publish and provide access to housing designationsLocal authority
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Local Authority must assess 'fit and proper' status for housing licencesLocal authority
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Local Authority must revoke housing licences for banned personsLocal authority
- Operate an unlicensed HMO or breach licence conditionsAny Person
- Operate HMO without licence or breach licence conditionsAny Person
Unlimited fine
- Pay back rent if you operate an unlicensed HMOAny Person
20 other sections in this Part — procedural and definitional
Selective licensing of other residential accommodation
7 of 24 sections shownOther duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Local authorities must follow strict criteria when designating licensing areasLocal authority
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Local authorities must publish and provide copies of licensing designationsLocal authority
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Local Authority must assess 'fit and proper' status for housing licencesLocal authority
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Local Authority must revoke housing licences in banning order casesLocal authority
- Operate house without required licence or breach licence conditionsLandlord
- Operate unlicensed HMO or breach licence conditionsAny Person
Unlimited fine
- Repay rent or benefits if you operate an unlicensed propertyAny Person
17 other sections in this Part — procedural and definitional
Additional control provisions in relation to residential accommodation
46 of 47 sections shownOther duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Local authorities must manage and review properties under management ordersLocal authority
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Local Authority must consider compensation for third-party rights interferenceLocal authority
- Fail to comply with court order to allow entry for remedial workAny Person
- Obstruct entry for housing authority repair workOccupier
Unlimited fine · amended 2 times (opens in a new tab)
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Local authority must manage and insure properties under interim EDMOsLocal authority
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Local Authority must manage and monitor properties under a final EDMOLocal authority
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Local Authority must consider compensation for third parties under an EDMOLocal authority
- Breach an overcrowding notice (HMO)Any Person
- Fail to comply with an overcrowding noticeAny Person
Fine up to £2,500 · amended 10 times (opens in a new tab)
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Local authorities must specify occupancy limits in overcrowding noticesLocal authority
- Prevent overcrowding and ensure separate sleeping quarters in HMOsAny Person
Unlimited fine · amended 2 times (opens in a new tab)
- Comply with new resident restrictions in overcrowding noticesAny Person
Unlimited fine · amended 3 times (opens in a new tab)
1 other section in this Part — procedural and definitional
3 other sections in this Part — procedural and definitional
Other provisions about housing
23 of 54 sections shown- Harass mobile home occupier or withhold servicesAny Person
- Harass or withhold services to mobile‑home occupiersAny Person
2 years imprisonment · amended 2 times (opens in a new tab)
amended 12 times
- Protect tenancy deposits in an authorised scheme within 30 daysLandlord
- Protect pre-April 2007 deposits when fixed term becomes periodicLandlord
amended 10 times
amended 10 times
amended 10 times
31 other sections in this Part — procedural and definitional
Supplementary and final provisions
32 of 47 sections shownamended 8 times
amended 8 times
amended 8 times
amended 8 times
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Local authorities must maintain a public register of housing licencesLocal authority
- Fail to comply with HMO management regulationsAny Person
Unlimited fine · amended 2 times (opens in a new tab)
- Fail to comply with information noticeAny Person
Unlimited fine · amended 2 times (opens in a new tab)
- Supply false or misleading information to a local housing authorityAny Person
Unlimited fine · amended 1 time (opens in a new tab)
- Obstruct a housing inspector or authorised officerAny Person
- Obstruct a local housing authority officerAny Person
Fine up to £2,500 · amended 2 times (opens in a new tab)
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Local authorities must identify and serve documents to relevant property personsLocal authority
- Be liable for a corporate housing offence through consent, connivance or neglectDirector or Officer
15 other sections in this Part — procedural and definitional
Schedules
34 of 338 shown- Comply with mandatory licensing conditions for HMOs and rented propertiesLicence Holder
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Local Authority must follow strict notice and consultation rules for Management OrdersLocal authority
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Local authority must notify HMO licence holder of non-compliance and give up to 18 months to fix itLocal authority
- Comply with local authority household waste scheme at your HMOLicence Holder
- Demand references from prospective tenantsLicence Holder
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Local housing authority must serve notice of management order on occupiers and relevant personsLocal authority
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Local housing authority must return furniture to proprietor on requestLocal authority
- Fail to comply with court order for access to carry out worksOccupier
Unlimited fine
- Provide optional dispute resolution service for tenancy deposit disputesAny Person
- Pay tenant deposits into a custodial scheme designated accountLandlord
- Apply to tenancy deposit scheme for withheld deposit after 14 daysLandlord
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Tenant can apply to deposit scheme for refund if landlord unreachable or unresponsiveLocal authority
- Scheme administrator must process deposit release applications and notify the other partyDirector or Officer
- Comply with scheme administrator's directions to pay deposit funds into designated accountLandlord
- Maintain designated deposit account in compliance with rulesDirector or Officer
- Respond promptly to tenant deposit confirmation requestsDirector or Officer
- Fail to comply with inquiry notice or provide false evidenceAny Person
Unlimited fine
- Provide false or misleading information in response to HHSRS noticeAny Person
Unlimited fine
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Tribunal may order a party to pay costs for misconduct or non-complianceTribunal / Court
- Breach of housing safety or licensing requirementsAny Person
Fine up to £30,000
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Local housing authority must give notice of intent before imposing financial penaltyLocal authority
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Local housing authority must have regard to Secretary of State guidanceLocal authority
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Local housing authority must decide on financial penalty after representationsLocal authority
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Local authority must give final notice when imposing a financial penaltyLocal authority
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Local authority must set 28-day payment period in final noticeLocal authority
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Authority must include required details in final penalty noticeLocal authority
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Local housing authority must give notice of intent before imposing financial penaltyLocal authority
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Enforcing authorities must pay unapplied penalty proceeds to the Secretary of StateLocal authority
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Local authority must give notice of intent within 6 months of evidenceLocal authority
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Enforcement authority must give a detailed notice of intent before a financial penaltyLocal authority
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Local housing authority must decide on financial penalty after representationsLocal authority
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Local housing authority must give final notice before imposing financial penaltyLocal authority
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Local housing authority must set 28-day payment deadline in final penalty noticesLocal authority
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Local housing authority must include required details in final penalty noticeLocal authority
304 other schedules
Help complying
Guvnor’s practical routes through this instrument.
Accommodation compliance for hotels, B&Bs, and holiday lets
Compliance journey for accommodation providers covering tourist registration, fire safety for sleeping accommodation, legionella management, VAT on accommodation, short-term lets regulation, HMO …
Start a hospitality business: licences, food safety, and compliance
End-to-end learning path for opening a hospitality business. Covers premises licences, food business registration, HACCP, fire safety, employer obligations, tipping law, and …
Start a lettings agency
Compliance requirements for starting a property letting business in the UK
Keep a rented home fit for human habitation
Every lease of a home in England for under 7 years carries an implied promise by the landlord that it is fit …
6 more guides that reference this instrument
Duty extraction and severity labels are Guvnor’s analysis of the instrument, not the instrument itself. Always verify against the linked source text.