Section 16I — Financial penalties

(1) [F1 A local housing authority may impose a financial penalty on a person if satisfied beyond reasonable doubt—]

(a) [F1 that the person contravened section 16D or any paragraph of section 16E(1) other than paragraph (e), or]

(b) [F1 that—]

(i) [F1 the person contravened paragraph (e) of section 16E(1), and]

(ii) [F1 the tenant surrendered the tenancy within the period of four months beginning with the date of the contravention, without an order for possession of the dwelling-house being made.]

(2) [F1 Where a landlord fulfils the requirement in section 16D, a local housing authority may not impose a financial penalty on a person who contravenes section 16D only by virtue of subsection (8) of that section.]

(3) [F1 More than one penalty may be imposed on the same person in relation to a contravention of section 16D only if—]

(a) [F1 the contravention continues after the end of 28 days beginning with the day after that on which the previous penalty for the contravention was imposed, unless the person appeals against the decision to impose the penalty within that period, or]

(b) [F1 if the person appeals against that decision within that period, the contravention continues after the end of 28 days beginning with the day after that on which the appeal is finally determined, withdrawn or abandoned.]

(4) [F1 Subsection (3) does not enable a penalty to be imposed after the final notice in respect of the previous penalty has been withdrawn or quashed on appeal.]

(5) [F1 Where a local housing authority has imposed a financial penalty on a person in relation to a contravention of paragraph (b) or (d) of section 16E(1), the local housing authority may not impose a financial penalty in relation to a contravention of the other of those two paragraphs arising from the same conduct.]

(6) [F1 The amount of a financial penalty imposed under this section is to be determined by the authority imposing it, but must not be more than £7,000.]

(7) [F1 Where—]

(a) [F1 a local housing authority is satisfied as mentioned in subsection (1) in relation to two or more persons, and]

(b) [F1 the contraventions in relation to which the local housing authority is so satisfied arise from the same conduct by one or more of the persons acting on behalf of the others,]

[F1 the local housing authority may impose a financial penalty under this section on the persons (or some of them) jointly, and if the local housing authority does so, the persons on whom the penalty is imposed are jointly and severally liable to pay it.]

(8) [F1 No financial penalty may be imposed under this section in respect of any conduct if—]

(a) [F1 the person has been convicted of an offence under section 16J in respect of the conduct,]

(b) [F1 criminal proceedings under that section have been instituted against the person in respect of the conduct and the proceedings have not been concluded,]

(c) [F1 criminal proceedings under that section in respect of the conduct have been concluded and the person has not been convicted of the offence, or]

(d) [F1 a financial penalty has been imposed under section 16K in respect of that conduct.]

(9) [F1 The Secretary of State may give guidance to local housing authorities about the exercise of their functions under this section.]

(10) [F1 Local housing authorities must have regard to any guidance issued under subsection (9).]

(11) [F1 For the purposes of this section and section 16J—]

(a) [F1 a financial penalty is imposed under this section or section 16K on the date specified in the final notice as the date on which the notice is given, and]

(b) [F1 “final notice” has the meaning given by paragraph 6 of Schedule 2ZA.]

Amendment notes

1. F1 Ss. 16I-16L and cross-heading inserted (1.5.2026 for specified purposes) by Renters’ Rights Act 2025 (c. 26), ss. 15, 145(1)(8) (with ss. 138, 146(1), 147(1)(2), Sch. 6 paras. 1, 3, 4, 7, 16, 17); S.I. 2026/421, reg. 2(a)