Civil penalty notices for housing offences
The law says that councils can fine landlords as an alternative to prosecution for certain housing offences.
We aim to support responsible landlords who provide decent and well-maintained homes.
Unfortunately, there is a small number of landlords who knowingly rent out unsafe and substandard accommodation.
We now use civil penalties (fines) to help deal with landlords who break the law.
Any civil penalties we impose reflect recent fines in the magistrates' courts. They also take account of:
- the landlord's behaviour
- the landlord's income
- the seriousness of the offences
Civil penalties can be a quicker and more cost-effective method of enforcement action.
Our civil penalties have been developed by authorities across the West Midlands. This aims to provide consistency in our region.
Page last updated: 7 August 2023
