Rogue landlords will be forced to pay back 24 months of rent as part of rent repayment orders, up from the current 12 months.
Repeat offenders will have to pay the maximum amount of rent, as the new Labour government looks to crack down on serial offenders in the Renters’ Rights Bill.
Fines are also going up, from £5,000 to £7,000 for minor offences, and from £30,000 to £40,000 for serious or repeated breaches.
The Renters Rights Bill said: “We are introducing a package of measures to strengthen rent repayment orders.
“The measures will increase the deterrent effect of rent repayment orders, make them easier and more appealing for tenants and local authorities to pursue and expand them to cover more of the sector.”
Tenants will be able to seek rent repayment orders if landlords fail to join the ombudsman service, or if their properties fail the Decent Home Standard.
On fines, the Bill added: “The reforms we are introducing will be underpinned by an effective, consistent and proportionate enforcement framework.
“We are extending councils’ powers to collect and retain revenue for future enforcement work from financial penalties against landlords who flout the rules.
“We are providing councils with a range of new investigatory powers which will allow them to enforce our new reforms, including powers to require information from relevant persons and any persons and powers of entry to business and residential premises.”
