Section 16K — Housing Act 1988: Financial penalties as an alternative to prosecution under section 16J

Financial penalties as an alternative to prosecution under section 16J 16K 1 A local housing authority may impose a financial penalty on a person if satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that the person is guilty of an offence under section 16J.

2 No financial penalty may be imposed under this section in respect of any conduct if—

a the person has been convicted of an offence under section 16J in respect of the conduct, b criminal proceedings under that section in respect of the conduct have been instituted against the person and the proceedings have not been concluded, or c criminal proceedings under that section in respect of the conduct have been concluded and the person has not been convicted of the offence.

3 The amount of a financial penalty imposed under this section is to be determined by the authority imposing it, but must not be more than £40,000.

4 Where—

a a local housing authority is satisfied as mentioned in subsection (1) in relation to two or more persons, and b the offences in relation to which the local housing authority is so satisfied arise from the same conduct by one or more of the persons acting on behalf of the others, the local housing authority may impose a financial penalty under this section on the persons (or some of them) jointly, and if the local housing authority does so, the persons on whom the penalty is imposed are jointly and severally liable to pay it.

5 The Secretary of State may give guidance to local housing authorities about the exercise of their functions under this section.

6 Local housing authorities must have regard to any guidance issued under subsection (5).