Property Redress Scheme
A government-approved ombudsman scheme for property-related complaints. Letting agents in England must be members of a redress scheme (The Property Ombudsman or Property Redress Scheme). The Renters Rights Act 2025 extends mandatory redress to private landlords.
At a glance
- Schemes
- Property Ombudsman + Property Redress Scheme
- Required for
- Letting agents in England
- Extended to landlords
- By Renters’ Rights Act 2025
Full guide
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Open full guideWhy Property Redress Scheme matters for landlords
Redress-scheme membership for letting agents has been mandatory for years, but RRA 2025 extended mandatory redress to private landlords — the first time tenants have a direct ombudsman route against a landlord without going to court. Any landlord who has not enrolled in an approved scheme post-RRA is operating outside the law. Budget £60–£150 per year and retain the membership certificate.
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Official sources
LetCompliance editorial reviews this entry every quarter against the sources above. Always confirm specific duties with a qualified solicitor or your local council.
Related terms
Possession Order
The court order made at the end of a possession claim, requiring the tenant to give up the property to the landlord on a specified date. Two main types under Section 8: outright (give up by a fixed date, typically 14–42 days) or suspended (postponed if the tenant complies with terms, e.g. clearing arrears). If the tenant does not leave by the date in the order the landlord must apply for a Warrant of Possession to enforce eviction by a county court bailiff or High Court Enforcement Officer.
Banning Order
A court order under Part 2 of the Housing and Planning Act 2016 banning a person convicted of certain housing offences from letting property, engaging in lettings agency work or holding an HMO licence. Triggered by a banning-order offence (Schedule 1 of the Act): includes serious housing-condition offences, illegal eviction and unlawful HMO operation. A banned landlord is added to the national database of rogue landlords and breach of the order is itself a criminal offence with up to 51 weeks’ imprisonment.
BTL (Buy-to-Let)
A mortgage product and business model where a property is purchased specifically to rent out. Buy-to-let landlords are subject to Section 24 of the Finance Act 2015, which replaced mortgage interest relief with a 20% tax credit. Stamp duty is higher on a second property.
Capital Gains Tax (CGT)
Tax on the profit from selling a rental property. From April 2024 the CGT annual exempt amount was reduced to £3,000 and residential property gains are taxed at 18% (basic rate) or 24% (higher rate). A CGT return must be filed and tax paid within 60 days of completion.
Civil Penalty Notice
A financial penalty up to £30,000 a local housing authority can impose as an alternative to criminal prosecution under the Housing and Planning Act 2016, the Housing Act 2004 (HMO offences) and various tenancy offences. Common triggers: failure to comply with an Improvement Notice, breach of HMO licensing, unlawful eviction, breach of selective licensing or letting an unsafe property. The landlord can appeal to the First-tier Tribunal within 28 days; unpaid penalties are recoverable in the County Court.
CO Alarm (Carbon Monoxide Alarm)
Required from 1 October 2022 in every room with a fixed combustion appliance (excluding gas cookers) in private rented homes in England. The landlord must ensure an alarm is present and in working order at the start of each tenancy. Maximum civil penalty: £5,000 per property.