Southwark Council has introduced tougher sanctions for private landlords who fail to maintain safe and well-managed homes, under an updated enforcement policy that leverages new powers from the Renters Rights Act 2025.
The council's revised Private Sector Housing Enforcement Policy aims to raise housing standards and protect tenants' rights across the borough. Local authorities now have enhanced investigative powers to carry out enforcement actions, including statutory notices, emergency action, civil penalties, prosecutions, rent repayment orders, and banning orders for the most serious offenders.
No-nonsense approach for serious breaches
Under the policy, the council will continue to work with responsible landlords to help improve standards, but a 'no-nonsense approach' will be applied where there are serious risks to health and safety, deliberate breaches of the law, or a history of non-compliance.
Cllr David Watson, Executive Member for Community Safety and Engagement at Southwark Council, urged private tenants to come forward and report problems with their landlords. He told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS): "We want to be a champion for our residents and this new policy gives us the tools and the powers to be able to fight their corner more effectively. If tenants are experiencing harassment or inappropriate behaviour from their landlords, we can step in and enforce against that."
He added: "Our new policy helps to rebalance the power dynamic between landlords and tenants, so I urge tenants to come forward and speak to the council if they're having issues - we can help."
Renters Rights Act 2025 reforms
The policy incorporates extra duties brought in by the Renters Rights Act 2025 to support major tenancy reforms, such as abolishing Section 21 'no-fault' evictions and limiting rent increases to once per year. The council hopes the policy will provide greater confidence for renters, ensuring that complaints about unsafe housing conditions, poor management, harassment, or other breaches of housing law are investigated and acted upon where necessary.
According to the 2021 census, over a quarter of Southwark residents (86,500 people) were living in private rented accommodation. The census also found that over a quarter of private rental tenants face household deprivation, most commonly related to housing—defined as overcrowded, in a shared dwelling, or having no central heating.
Private renting is the second most common type of housing tenure in Southwark, after social rent, which accounts for over two-fifths of residents (125,600 people).
How private tenants can get help
Private tenants seeking help or advice relating to their tenancy agreement, harassment, threats from their landlord, or an eviction can contact the council's tenancy relations service at tenancy.relations@southwark.gov.uk or call 020 7525 4113. Renters having problems with their private tenancy, such as being asked to leave, can also use the same contact details.
Private tenants who are concerned their home does not meet basic standards or need advice about the new rules under the Renters Rights Act 2025 can email the council's private sector housing enforcement team at resi@southwark.gov.uk or call 020 7525 4090.
Support for landlords
The council has said advice, guidance, and support will be available to landlords seeking to meet their legal obligations. Private landlords can contact tenancy.relations@southwark.gov.uk or call 020 7525 4113 for support.
