New Clause 34: Renters (Reform) Bill
New Clause 34 - Rent repayment orders:  liability of directors etc
“In the Housing and Planning Act 2016, after section 51 insert—
“51A Landlord which is body corporate: liability of directors etc
(1) This section applies where—
(a) a landlord which is a body corporate has committed an offence to which this Chapter applies, and
(b) the offence—
(i) was committed with the consent or connivance of a relevant person in relation to the body corporate, or of a person purporting to act in the capacity of a relevant person in relation to the body corporate, or
(ii) was a specified offence and was attributable to any neglect on the part of such a person.
(2) That person, as well as the body corporate, is treated for the purposes of this Chapter as having committed the offence.
(3) In this Chapter a reference to the landlord includes that person.
(4) In this section—
“relevant person” means—
(a) in relation to a body corporate other than one the affairs of which are managed by its members, a director, manager, secretary or other similar officer of the body;
(b) in relation to a body corporate the affairs of which are managed by its members, a member who exercises functions of management with respect to it;
“specified offence” means an offence under—
(a) section 1(2) of the Protection from Eviction Act 1977;
(b) section 30(1), 32(1), 72(1) or 95(1) of the Housing Act 2004;
(c) section 21 of this Act;
(d) section 48(1), (2) or (3) or 69(2), (3) or (4) of the Renters (Reform) Act 2024.”.”—(Jacob Young.)