England expands rent repayment powers to 41 councils

If you rent privately and receive Housing Benefit or the housing element of Universal Credit, stronger protection is on the way. On 20 December 2025 the Department for Work and Pensions said its data‑sharing pilot will now cover 41 councils across England, aiming to protect around 400,000 households and recover public money from landlords who break housing rules. Councils will get streamlined access to Universal Credit information specifically for rent repayment cases.

Here’s the plain‑English version of how rent repayment orders work. A rent repayment order (RRO) is a First‑tier Tribunal decision that can make a landlord pay back rent to a tenant or pay a council the housing support it has provided when certain offences are proven, such as running an unlicensed property, ignoring improvement notices, illegal eviction or misusing an eviction ground. Tenants and councils can both apply.

Two big changes are coming under the Renters’ Rights Act 2025. First, the cap on RROs will increase from 12 months to 24 months; second, the time limit to start a claim moves from 12 months to 24 months. The Act also makes clear that superior landlords and company directors can be held to account, closing off common loopholes. These updates take effect from 1 May 2026, so councils and renters have a clear timetable to prepare.

The pilot has already shown how targeted data can speed up enforcement. Camden Council used the information‑sharing route to recover nearly £100,000 and make a fraud referral. The minister summed up the intention simply: “No one should live in unsafe or unsuitable housing.” The aim is to stop public money paying for poor or dangerous homes and to deter repeat offenders.

So where is this rolling out? The government’s list ranges from London boroughs like Barnet, Lewisham and Enfield to big cities such as Leeds, Bristol and Portsmouth, and counties including County Durham and Northumberland. In Enfield alone, nearly 30,000 households receiving housing support stand to be better protected once the scheme is live locally. Check your council’s private renting page for how to report concerns.

If you’re a renter and think your landlord is breaking rules, start by gathering evidence: dated photos, messages, and any letters from the council. You can ask your local authority’s private housing team about RROs and whether they, you, or both of you should apply. You don’t need to be on benefits to seek an RRO as a tenant, and councils can also claim back the housing element of Universal Credit or Housing Benefit they’ve paid.

If you work in a council team, the updated guidance explains when to apply, how to calculate ‘one‑off’ versus ‘ongoing’ offences, and how joint cases with tenants can be handled so evidence is shared and heard together. The key takeaway is the new two‑year window to apply and the higher ceiling on awards for rent funded through benefits. That combination should make more cases viable.

For landlords, this is about weeding out criminal practice-not punishing those who manage homes properly. Under the new law, repeat offenders must repay the maximum amount, and RROs can reach superior landlords and company directors, which means rent‑to‑rent arrangements won’t shield wrongdoing. Staying compliant on licensing, repairs and safety remains the safest path.

Zooming out, the data‑sharing expansion sits within the wider Renters’ Rights Act changes: ending Section 21 ‘no‑fault’ evictions, introducing a private rented sector ombudsman and database, applying the Decent Homes Standard to private rentals, and extending Awaab’s Law timelines on urgent hazards. These reforms are being phased, with tenancy changes and enforcement tools scheduled by government guidance. We’ll keep signposting the dates as they’re confirmed and come into force.