Section 58 amends the Protection from Eviction Act 1977.
	Subsection (2) inserts section 1 of the Protection from Eviction Act 1977, new subsection (7), which provides that a person cannot be convicted of an offence under section 1 for any conduct if a financial penalty has been imposed (under section 1A) in respect of that conduct.
	Subsection (3) inserts a new section 1A (Financial penalty for offence under section 1) into the Protection from Eviction Act 1977. It gives local housing authorities the ability to issue a financial penalty if satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that the person has committed an offence under section 1 of the Protection from Eviction Act 1977 in relation to premises in England. The maximum financial penalty that a local housing authority can impose is £40,000.
	New section 1A, subsections (4) and (5) enable the Secretary of State to provide guidance on fines that local authorities must have regard to when they are exercising their functions under this section.
	New Schedule A1 makes provision about procedures, appeals, enforcement and proceeds of financial penalties. Schedule A1 is inserted into the Protection from Eviction Act 1977 by section 60, subsection (4).
	New section 1A, subsections (7), (8) and (9) gives the Secretary of State powers to amend the maximum penalty amount via regulations in line with inflation. Such regulations are subject to the negative procedure.
	New section 1A(10) defines "local housing authority" for the purposes of new section 1A and Schedule A1.
Part 1: Tenancy reform Chapter 7: Miscellaneous Section 58: Penalties for unlawful eviction or harassment of occupier Effect