Landlords in England could face fines of up to £7,000 per hazard if they fail to address overheating risks in rental properties, as local councils exercise enhanced enforcement powers introduced in June 2026.
The warning comes as temperatures are expected to rise again this month, with excessive heat now recognised as a potential hazard under the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS).
While Britain has no legal maximum indoor temperature for rented homes, councils can impose penalties where landlords fail to respond to overheating that creates a genuine health risk to tenants.
Health risk assessment
Jack Malnick, co-founder of Landlord Resource, said the key test is whether overheating creates a genuine health risk rather than breaching a specific temperature threshold.
“A property can be considered unsafe if overheating creates a health risk,” Malnick explained. “It’s not a question of a set temperature to breach, but whether the overheating is severe enough to become a health and safety hazard or make the property unfit.”
Landlords are not legally required to provide air conditioning or fans, but they remain responsible for maintaining adequate ventilation. Stuck windows, broken extractor fans, faulty blinds or structural defects affecting airflow could all potentially fall within the HHSRS framework if they contribute to serious overheating hazards.
Enforcement changes
Tenants who raise concerns about overheating can escalate complaints to their local council’s environmental health team or request a formal HHSRS inspection if landlords fail to respond.
The abolition of Section 21 no-fault evictions under the Renters’ Rights Act has changed the dynamic for tenants raising complaints, according to Malnick.
“Landlords can’t simply ignore repair requests anymore. Due to the new no-fault evictions rule, landlords cannot simply serve a notice due to a complaint,” he said.
The regulatory changes follow broader shifts in the rental sector, including recent developments in deposit disputes and property maintenance standards.
The enforcement powers form part of wider regulatory reforms affecting the private rental sector, as authorities seek to improve property standards and tenant protections across England.
