A council led jointly by Green and Labour members says it’s going to “engage” with landlords over tougher rental sector enforcement.
Lewes district council says it’s strengthening its approach to regulating the private rented sector, “ensuring tenants are better protected and housing standards continue to rise across the district.”
On the back of the government’s Renters Rights Act 2025, the council says it’s adopting “a more robust and transparent framework for enforcement, enabling the council to intervene earlier in cases of serious non‑compliance.”
This will involve clampdowns on landlord legislation, clearer thresholds for when formal action will be taken, and a stronger focus on tenant safety and property standards.
It also introduces a comprehensive civil penalties framework, enabling the council to issue financial penalties as an alternative to prosecution. The council claims that all income from fines will be reinvested locally to improve housing conditions.
Councillor Mark Slater, responsible for housing, says: “Tenants deserve safe, secure homes, and landlords deserve clarity about what the law requires. This policy gives us the tools to help us uphold both.
“The Renters Rights Act gives councils stronger powers, and we intend to use them proportionately and openly.
“We will be engaging with tenants, landlords and agents over the coming months, so everyone understands what this means in practice.”
