A groundbreaking new strategy for tenant protections received Cabinet approval on Thursday, building upon the council’s pledge to enhance housing standards, safety and sustainability, with particular emphasis on elevating conditions within the private rental market.

The updated Private Sector Housing Enforcement Policy revises the current framework, ensuring the local approach aligns precisely with fresh national laws established through the Renters’ Rights Act.

This legislation, effective from May 1, reflects the council’s ongoing intolerance of unscrupulous landlords and grants local authorities enhanced capabilities to both assist residents and require compliance with expected standards through enforcement measures when needed.

The council recognises that numerous responsible landlords operate within the city, playing a vital role in providing accommodation to local residents.

Approximately one third of homes in the area are rented privately, compared to 20 percent across the country, and in certain wards privately rented properties represent over half of all housing stock.

The objective is ensuring those residing in privately rented accommodation receive appropriate support and safeguards, with the council committed to doing everything possible to maintain high housing standards.

The existing Private Sector Housing Enforcement Policy was introduced in 2020 and requires updating to account for new national legislation and to incorporate the actual experiences of private renters in Brighton and Hove.

The strategy includes stiffer consequences for persistent or severe breaches and gives the council greater authority to intervene promptly and initiate formal proceedings when landlords neglect their responsibilities, fail to maintain properties to acceptable standards, or engage in unlawful evictions or tenant intimidation.

The policy establishes that any enforcement actions undertaken by the council must be equitable, uniform and measured, alongside a stricter methodology for calculating penalties imposed on landlords for legal violations.

Crucially, it establishes a legal structure for tackling hazardous living situations, making landlords answerable through mechanisms such as official notices and raising property conditions.

As well as the Renters’ Rights Act, it encompasses additional legislation including the Building Safety Act, Electrical Safety Standards regulations and local property licensing schemes.

While this may seem highly technical, fundamentally it aims to strengthen residents’ housing stability and provide the council with greater capacity to intervene when standards deteriorate, offering more robust tools in the private rental sector.

The city contains many responsible landlords and this approach will not impact them, though it does provide enhanced powers to act when landlords fail to manage their properties and tenancies appropriately.

The fresh Renters’ Rights Act, which Parliament approved in October of the previous year, is greatly welcomed and the council is pleased to be able to revise its policy in line with these national developments.

Additional resources of approximately £325,000 have been secured to assist with meeting these expanded duties. This will enable the council to build upon ongoing efforts to improve housing for all residents in Brighton and Hove’s private rental sector.

Guidance for residents is straightforward. Eviction will only be permitted with a legitimate legal justification. Agreements will operate on a rolling basis without predetermined conclusion dates. Rent may only be increased once annually with two months’ advance notification required.

Residents will also have the ability to contest unreasonable rent increases through independent tribunals and landlords cannot refuse accommodation based on benefit status or family circumstances. Any future rejection of pet requests must be justified.

These modifications will significantly benefit residents by ensuring their privately rented homes offer greater stability and protection against escalating rental costs, while also becoming more truly theirs to inhabit. This should be available to everyone.

The council maintains regular communication with landlords across the city and will clearly communicate the expectations this updated policy establishes. Where necessary, assistance will be provided throughout this transition.

Council officers will be reaching out to every letting agent in the city to ensure they understand their fresh obligations and are helping their landlord clients meet the new requirements.

This represents a considerable shift in approach for the private rental sector, but these modifications are expected to be positive and the council is committed to supporting both tenants and landlords throughout.

The council is proud to be at the forefront of immediate implementation.

All residents deserve a respectable, stable home and this legislation will undoubtedly contribute to achieving that goal.

Councillor Gill Williams serves as Cabinet Member for Housing at Brighton and Hove City Council.