Starting December 2025 under the Renters’ Rights Act, local authorities will gain significant new powers to enter private rental properties without advance notice or a warrant.

Key Changes for Landlords

The powers are specifically designed to enforce the new national landlord database registration requirements. Council housing officers can enter a property if they reasonably suspect the landlord has:

• Failed to register the property on the database.
• Provided false or misleading information to the database operator.

Inspection Details:

• No Prior Notice: Councils will no longer be required to give prior notice to the landlord before entering.
• Post-Inspection Notice: Landlords must be notified in writing of the entry, its purpose, and any potential legal breaches after the inspection has occurred, though the timeframe is only “within a reasonable period.”
• Evidence Collection: Officers are authorised to take photographs and recordings without needing consent during the visit.

What This Means

Industry experts note that while these powers formalise certain actions councils were already taking under previous legislation (like the Housing Act 2004), the new framework gives councils powers that some suggest “exceed the police” in terms of unannounced entry.

Landlords or tenants who obstruct an inspection could face fines of up to £2,500. If entry is refused, councils can seek a magistrate’s warrant to force access.

Staying Compliant

The best defense for landlords is to ensure full and transparent compliance. This includes:

• Clear and accurate registration on the new landlord database.
• Maintaining up-to-date property safety certificates and records.
• Demonstrating responsible property management.

“Compliant landlords are unlikely to be targeted unless there are credible suspicions or serious licensing breaches,” the guidance suggests.