Decision details

The power to impose a civil penalty as an alternative to prosecution for the relevant housing act offences was introduced by section 126 and Schedule 9 of the Housing and Planning Act 2016 on 6 April 2017.

The use of civil penalties as an alternative to prosecution when deciding to use sanctions against a person who has committed a relevant offence. Civil penalties can still be used for dealing with serious offences, as well as providing a more suitable option for more lighter touch sanctioning. Lighter touch sanctioning will need fewer resources from the Housing Renewal and Legal section.