Civil Penalty Policy

7.               This document outlines the council's policy in setting the level of a civil penalty in each case where it has been determined to issue a civil penalty as an alternative to prosecution proceedings.

8.               The council considers the need for transparency and consistency in the discharge of its functions under the Housing Act 2004 (opens new window) to be of primary importance. The general objective of this policy is, therefore, to promote both transparency and consistency in the imposition of financial penalties under the 2004 Act so that, for example, those managing and having control of rented properties in the area (a) know how the council will generally penalise relevant offences and (b) are assured that, generally, like cases will be penalised similarly, and different cases penalised differently. The further objectives of using financial penalties in particular as a means of enforcing the above offences are explained below.