Bristol City Council has opened a public consultation on its proposed financial penalty framework for landlords who breach housing regulations, ahead of new enforcement powers under the Renters’ Rights Act taking effect in May 2026.
The consultation, which runs until 30 March, seeks input from tenants, landlords, letting agents and the general public on how fines should be calculated and applied for housing rule violations.
Penalty structure
While the Renters’ Rights Act sets maximum penalties of £7,000 for breaches and £40,000 for offences, local authorities retain discretion over how fines are applied. The council’s proposed framework would begin with baseline figures that can be adjusted based on multiple factors.
According to accompanying documents, officers would adjust penalties depending on the seriousness of the breach, risk to tenants, the landlord’s compliance history, cooperation during investigations, and whether issues were resolved promptly.
Local adjustments
The consultation questionnaire asks respondents whether proposed starting penalties and percentage adjustments are “too low”, “about right” or “too high”. The council is also seeking views on a 10% uplift to reflect Bristol’s higher rental costs, treatment of vulnerable tenants, and a 33% reduction for penalties paid within 28 days of the Final Notice.
Additional proposals include uplifts for repeat or deliberate breaches and reductions where landlords take early remedial action or admit responsibility. The council also proposes bringing electrical safety breaches, which carry a maximum £40,000 penalty, under the same framework.
The policy is scheduled to come into force on 1 May 2026, aligning with the implementation of the Renters’ Rights Act’s new enforcement provisions. Bristol becomes one of the first major councils to publicly consult on its penalty framework under the new legislation.
