A Chesterfield letting agent has been fined £8,600 after breaching new legislation introduced earlier this year.
Chesterfield Borough Council issued two financial penalties to a local letting agent after it was found the agent had committed offences under the Renters’ Right Act that came into force on 1 May 2026.
The total value of the penalties issued totalled £8,652 which was reduced to £7,354.20 as the penalties were paid within the specified timeframe.
The breaches came to light after the council’s private housing team received a complaint from tenants about housing standards at a rented property shortly after moving.
During its investigation, the council discovered that the agent had issued a six-month fixed-term tenancy agreement, despite fixed-term assured tenancies being prevented under the Renters’ Rights Act 2025.
The second penalty came after the council found that when the tenants expressed an intention to complain, they were told to leave the property and were moved into alternative accommodation owned by a different, unknown landlord.
The Renters’ Rights changes are designed to give tenants greater flexibility and security in the private rented sector.
Councillor Jean Innes, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for housing, said: “The Renters’ Rights Act was formally introduced earlier this year and rightly provides greater protection for tenants.
“We are committed to putting our communities first and making sure renters have the protection they need. That’s why before the new legislation came into force, our private sector housing team engaged with landlords and letting agents across the borough to make sure they understood the changes and what was expected of them.
“This case demonstrates that we will take action where landlords and agents fail to comply with their duties. We also hope it serves as a reminder to letting agents across Chesterfield to ensure they fully understand the recent changes to the law and their responsibilities.”
As well as taking enforcement action against the agent, the council served an improvement notice to ensure the original property was brought up to the required letting standard, which helps protect future tenants from being housed in sub-standard accommodation.
More information about the changes to landlord legislation.
