Commentary on Sections Part 5 - Home Information Packs Section 168: Penalty charge notices
375.Section 162 gives enforcement officers a power to give penalty charge notices to persons whom they believe have failed to comply with any of the duties described in sections 155 to 159, 167(4), or 172(1).
376.The section provides that a penalty charge notice may only be given within the six-month period following the date on which the breach of duty occurred (or the date of the last day of a continuing breach). It also introduces Schedule 8, which makes further provisions for fixed penalties.
377.Enforcement officers have a number of options other than giving a penalty charge notice when they believe that a breach has occurred. It is anticipated that they will simply provide advice or a warning in most cases. In more serious cases they may issue a formal caution. The penalty charge is likely to be in the region of £200.