Introduction
Coventry City Council considers the protection of public health paramount and is therefore committed to ensuring that all privately rented properties and social housing in Coventry meets minimum standards.
The Council commits to working with owners, private and social landlords, letting agents and tenants to safeguard housing conditions and prevent wider environmental issues arising from rented homes in Coventry.
The Council will support statutory compliance by:
- Facilitating the administration and enforcement of both the mandatory and discretionary additional licensing schemes for prescribed Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs).
- Undertaking inspections and audits.
- Providing advice and education to landlords and agents, helping them to reduce issues and raise housing standards, and,
- Serving statutory notices against landlords who fail to comply with their legal requirements.
Coventry City Council recognises and affirms the importance of achieving and maintaining consistency in its approach to making decisions that concern regulatory enforcement action, including prosecution.
In deciding upon enforcement options, each case will be investigated and judged on its own merits.
Any enforcement taken will be proportionate to the risk presented and decided upon in accordance with:
- Official statutory guidance provided by Government.
- Better Regulation Delivery Office - Regulators’ Code [https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/regulators-code]
- Coventry City Council’s Enforcement Policy Coventry City Council – Regulation, Communities and Environmental Enforcement Policy – Coventry City Council [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/licensing-regulation/regulation-communities-and-enforcement-policy], and,
- The Code of Crown Prosecutors evidential and public interest tests The Code for Crown Prosecutors | The Crown Prosecution Service [https://www.cps.gov.uk/publication/code-crown-prosecutors#section5].
The Council will also have due regard for relevant non statutory guidance provided by Government and relevant Council procedures, unless inappropriate in the circumstances.
The Regulators’ Code [https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/regulators-code] was introduced in 2014 and gives direction on how enforcement bodies must approach the enforcement of the laws to which it applies.
- This requires a supportive, informal approach first, with legal action normally only following if such an approach hasn’t been effective.
- The Renters’ Rights Act is predicated on an ‘enforcement first approach’ – see Guidance [https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/renters-rights-act-guidance-for-local-authorities-and-councils]
The list of laws to which the Regulators’ Code applies are in schedules to the The Legislative and Regulatory Reform (Regulatory Functions) Order 2007 [https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2007/3544]
- The housing legislation to which it does apply is:
- Parts 8, 9 and 10 [https://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/ukpga/1985/68] of the Housing Act 1985 – (Area Improvement, Slum Clearance, Overcrowding)
- Part 8 [https://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/ukpga/1996/52] of the Housing Act 1996 – (Miscellaneous and general provisions)
- Parts 2 to 5 [https://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/ukpga/2004/34] of the Housing Act 2004 – (HMO and other licensing, management orders)
- It does not apply to:
- The Renters’ Rights Act 2025 itself
- The ‘landlord legislation’ listed in S107(5) of that Act
- Part 1 of the Housing Act 2004 [https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2004/34/part/1] – (Housing conditions and HHSRS)
The Council takes the enforcement of conditions in the Private Rented Sector (PRS) and Social Housing (SH) extremely seriously. Where it is considered to be necessary and proportionate, the Council will use its enforcement powers to full effect.
For further information you can read the full Private Sector Housing Enforcement Policy 2026 to 2031 [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/downloads/file/46864/private-sector-housing-enforcement-policy-2026-to-2031].