Overview
Government legislation gives us the option to impose a financial penalty as an alternative to prosecution for certain housing offences. These powers were introduced to help local authorities take more enforcement action against rogue landlords.
We are entitled to retain any monies collected, provided they are used to fund private sector housing enforcement functions. Our Housing Enforcement Policy sets out when we should prosecute and when we should impose a financial penalty, and the level of financial penalty we should impose in each case.
Read our Housing Civil Penalty Policy to learn about when we will impose a civil penalty and how we determine the amount.
Our team aim to improve housing conditions within the private rented sector and bring properties up to standard. We have a responsibility to deal with housing that may be dangerous for the occupiers in the property.
The type of enforcement action we decide is considered on a case-by-case basis and will vary according to the law.
The policy was adopted by Cabinet on 25 September 2019 which allows us to impose such penalties for offences that occurred on or after 01 April 2019.
These offences include:
- Failing to comply with an Improvement Notice
- Failing to licence a house in multiple occupation (“HMO”)
- Knowingly permitting the over-occupation of a licensed HMO
- Failing to comply with the condition of an HMO licence
- Failing to licence a house subject to selective licensing
- Failing to comply with the condition of a selective licence
- Failing to comply with an overcrowding notice in respect of a non-licensable HMO
- Failing to comply with HMO management regulations
- Breaching a banning order
If you would like further information please contact our Private Sector Housing Team on 01474 337466. We can also be contacted by email fpn.representations@gravesham.gov.uk
How to pay
If you have received a financial penalty notice, you can pay this online.