Tenant Fees Act 2019
Legislation banning most fees charged to tenants in England. Permitted payments are limited to rent, a refundable tenancy deposit (capped at 5 or 6 weeks), a holding deposit (1 week), default fees, tenant change fees and early termination fees. Breaches carry fines up to £30,000.
At a glance
- Bans
- Most fees charged to tenants
- Permitted
- Rent, deposit, holding deposit, defaults, change, early termination
- Max fine
- £30,000
Full guide
Read the complete landlord guide on Tenant Fees Act 2019
Deadlines, fines and step-by-step compliance in our in-depth resource.
Open full guideWhy Tenant Fees Act 2019 matters for landlords
Fee bans were the most consumer-facing PRS change of 2019 and tenant-advocacy organisations still actively police them. An unlawful "admin fee" embedded in a letting-agent’s onboarding invoice is the landlord’s problem too — councils pursue the landlord when the agent is uncooperative, and a £30,000 fine is doubled on repeat.
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
Awaab's Law
Provisions extending to the private rented sector under the Renters Rights Act 2025 that set strict timescales for landlords to investigate and remedy hazards such as damp and mould. Named after Awaab Ishak. Breach can lead to tenant compensation and enforcement by the local housing authority.
Council Tax
The tax charged on residential property by the local authority. Tenants are usually liable while the property is let as their main residence. Landlords become liable during void periods and for most HMOs (where each tenant has their own AST).
Disrepair
A property condition falling below legal standards under Section 11 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018 or the Decent Homes Standard. Tenants can sue for damages and specific performance, and a valid disrepair claim is a complete defence to a possession claim.
Fitness for Human Habitation
The standard set by the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018. Every rented home must be fit for habitation at the start of the tenancy and throughout. Tenants can sue the landlord directly for breach, without involving the local authority.
Break Clause
A clause in a fixed-term tenancy that allows landlord or tenant to end the agreement early. With fixed-term ASTs abolished from 1 May 2026 for most residential tenancies, break clauses are rarely relevant, a tenant can instead end a periodic tenancy with two months' notice.
CP12 (Gas Safety Record)
The document issued after an annual gas safety check by a Gas Safe registered engineer, commonly called a Gas Safety Certificate. Landlords must renew it every 12 months, give the tenant a copy within 28 days of the check, and give new tenants a copy before they move in. Non-compliance is a criminal offence under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998.