Prohibited Payment Prohibitions — landlord obligations in England
You must not require a tenant, guarantor, or other relevant person to make any payment that is not allowed under the Tenant Fees Act 2019. This includes payments to you, to third parties, entering third-party contracts, or making loans — unless the payment is a permitted payment listed in Schedule 1. The prohibition applies continuously throughout the tenancy.
The law that creates this obligation
Your obligations as a landlord
- Who this applies to: All landlords of housing in England in connection with any tenancy.
- When it applies: Continuously — at all times when requiring payments in relation to the tenancy.
- What you must do: Ensure that no prohibited payments are required or received. Self-attest that you do not require any prohibited payments.
What good evidence looks like
Your compliance file should contain
- Written record or document confirming this obligation has been met
- Date of compliance — email timestamp, signed receipt, or platform log
- FastPass available: Self-attestation is sufficient because this is a continuous compliance obligation with no specific event requiring documentary evidence.
Self-attest that you have not required or received any prohibited payments under TFA 2019.
Record this obligation in your LettingsLedger workspace
Upload evidence, set reminders, and build a timestamped compliance record — all in one place.
Consequences of non-compliance
This is a civil breach enforceable by financial penalty through trading standards. A repeat breach within five years may be treated as a criminal offence, with a financial penalty of up to £30,000 as an alternative to prosecution. You must repay any prohibited payment within 28 days of a demand from the tenant.
Further reading for landlords
LettingsLedger is a compliance evidence governance platform. It is not a legal services provider and does not provide legal advice. Content is derived from UK primary legislation at legislation.gov.uk and official GOV.UK sources. Reflects the position as at June 2026. A GovProtocol product by Pertheo Limited.