Section 57 allows a Local Housing Authority (or a Weights and Measures Authority) to impose a financial penalty on a person if satisfied that the person has breached the requirement in section 56. That is to include a specific rent amount in a written advert or offer for the tenancy or the prohibition against inviting, encouraging or accepting higher offers for the rent amount from prospective tenants.
	Subsection (2) states that a local housing authority may impose additional financial penalties in cases of a repeated breach of the requirements imposed by section 56 if such breaches were to happen within 5 years of a previous financial penalty being imposed. Multiple persons may be found jointly and severally liable for the same offence, as under subsection (5).
	Subsection (3) sets out the maximum fine amount, which will be £7,000 at commencement.
	Subsection (4) states that subsection (2) does not allow a penalty to be imposed for an offence if a final notice has already been withdrawn or quashed on appeal.
	Subsection (6) gives the Secretary of State power to produce guidance which local housing authorities must have regard to when exercising their functions in relation to financial penalties.
	Subsection (7) sets out that local authorities must have regard to any guidance given under subsection (6)
	Subsection (8) confers upon the Secretary of State the power to amend the maximum financial penalties under this section to reflect inflation. The regulations are subject to the negative resolution procedure.
Part 1: Tenancy reform Chapter 6: Stating the proposed rent and rental bidding Section 57: Financial Penalties Effect Effect