Stronger Council Powers from 27 December 2025: What Enforcement Will Look Like — and How to Be Audit‑Ready

Reading time: ~6 minutes
Audience: Letting agents & portfolio landlords (England)

From 27 December 2025, local housing authorities in England gain new investigatory powers to enforce housing law in the private rented sector. Expect more formal requests for documents, clearer deadlines, and sharper consequences for non‑compliance. This guide explains what councils can do, what they can ask for, and how to prepare your evidence so you can respond in hours, not weeks.

Context: The wider tenancy reforms (end of fixed terms and Section 21, move to assured periodic tenancies, updated grounds, rent-rise rules, pets, anti‑discrimination, stronger penalties) take effect on 1 May 2026. The PRS Database and Landlord Ombudsman follow from late 2026. 

What actually changes on 27 December 2025?

Local authorities will be able to investigate suspected breaches of housing law affecting the PRS formally. Key powers include the ability to:

• Require information by written notice from a relevant person (landlord, agent, licensor, marketer or a person with an interest in the property within the last 12 months). Failure to comply without reasonable excuse can be an offence. (Renters’ Rights Act s.114/s.131)
• Require information from any person or organisation where there is reasonable suspicion. Courts can compel compliance if needed. (s.115–116; use limits in s.117)
• Enter and inspect business premises (with notice for routine inspections) and, in specific circumstances, apply for a warrant if entry is refused or notice would defeat the purpose. (s.118–121)
• Seize and retain documents/records obtained during visits (subject to legal privilege).
• Access certain third‑party data (e.g., Council Tax, Housing Benefit, tenancy deposit information) to support investigations. (s.134 overview in guidance)
• Enter residential premises where specially authorised and the premises are reasonably suspected to be privately rented, for specified offences (e.g., illegal eviction) — often by consent or warrant.

Plain English: councils can formally demand documents and explanations, visit your office to inspect records, and seek a warrant to enter a rented home where legally justified. Treat notices seriously and keep an audit trail of your responses. 

What councils will expect you to produce (practically)

Be ready to retrieve, fast:

1. Tenancy records — agreements, prescribed information, rent‑increase notices, deposit details, “How to Rent” issue logs.
2. Safety & compliance evidence — Gas Safety, EICR, EPC and renewal dates; these datasets will also sit at the heart of the PRS Database rollout from late 2026.
3. Condition evidence — inventory, check‑in, property visits, check‑out with time‑stamped photos. In a rolling‑tenancy world (from May 2026), visit cadence and evidence quality carry more weight than ever.
4. Communications & access logs — inspection notices, tenant replies, damp/mould advice, and access refusals with re‑appointment attempts.
5. Client money & licensing — documents that demonstrate lawful client‑money handling and any applicable licences.

Your 10‑point audit‑readiness checklist (do this in December)

1. Nominate an Investigations Lead — a single inbox/phone route for council notices and deadlines.
2. Standardise evidence — one report format portfolio‑wide (inventory → visits → check‑out) with mandatory photos, serials, meter shots and location labels.
3. Centralise certificates — Gas, EICR, EPC per property; store with consistent naming. NLG clients can order Safe2 certificates directly through No Letting Go; we’ll coordinate and file them portfolio‑wide.
4. Data hygiene — clean landlord contacts, property IDs and addresses so you can populate PRS Database fields when required.
5. Council Pack template — cover letter + contents list + zipped bundle (tenancy docs, safety certs, reports, comms log).
6. Office‑visit protocol — who hosts, where records are stored, how documents are copied/seized; brief team on warrant vs notice rules.
7. Deadlines diary — log receipt dates and response deadlines from any s.114/s.115 notices; record actions taken.
8. Privacy & privilege — know what is subject to legal professional privilege and how to handle personal data disclosures.
9. Training bite — short branch briefing: “what councils can ask, who answers, how we respond.”
10. Escalation map — when to loop in compliance/legal if requests are complex or multi‑property.

How No Letting Go helps you de‑risk enforcement

• Independent, defendable evidence: Inventory, property visits, and check‑out reports designed for adjudication/enforcement, with time‑stamped photos and consistent descriptors.
• Kaptur‑powered audit trail: Templates with mandatory fields, embedded photos, digital signatures and cloud storage — uniform across every branch, fast to retrieve.
• Compliance certificates via Safe2 (through NLG): NLG clients can order Gas Safety, EICR and EPC certificates directly through No Letting Go and receive a 5% client discount. We coordinate at portfolio scale and store results centrally for PRS Database readiness.
• Portfolio scheduling: We’ll implement a visit cadence (e.g., 8–10 weeks post move‑in, then every 4–6 months) so your evidence is always current.

Quick FAQ

Can councils enter a rented home without consent?
Guidance explains that entry to domestic premises typically requires consent or a warrant; “business premises” powers differ (notice for routine inspection, or warrant where justified). Obstruction or failure to comply with information notices can be an offence. 

What if we need more time to compile records?
Engage promptly. Investigators can set deadlines; if you cannot comply in time, respond early with reasons and a plan. Keep a dated actions log. 

Dates to pin on your wall planner

• 27 December 2025 — Investigatory powers commence (England).
• 1 May 2026 — Tenancy reforms go live (end fixed terms & Section 21; periodic tenancies; updated grounds; rent‑rise rules; pets; anti‑discrimination; stronger penalties/reporting).
• From late 2026 → 2028 — PRS Database rollout; Landlord Ombudsman established, with mandatory membership expected in 2028.

Be ready before 27 December

Book a 20‑minute PRS Investigations Readiness Review. We’ll map your records, standardise your reports, and plug in Safe2 certificates — so you can respond to council requests quickly and confidently.

Field tip for your team: whenever you present this enforcement plan to agents or portfolio landlords, exchange business cards or secure contact details for follow‑up purposes — it keeps approvals moving and ensures the right stakeholders see updates.

Compliance note

This article provides general information for England and is not legal advice. Always refer to the latest official guidance and legislation.