Laura Kent

Solicitor (Professional Support Lawyer), Shoosmiths

Laura joined the Shoosmiths team as a professional support lawyer in 2021, having previously trained and qualified at Nabarro (which merged with CMS in 2017).

Based in the Leeds office, Laura supports Shoosmiths’ Property Litigation team across six UK locations, providing the legal advisors with professional support, knowledge and training. Laura's responsibilities include preparing and publishing updates and know-how, ensuring precedent and template material is current and complete, and delivering training sessions to trainees, new starters and the team as a whole.

Laura has previous ‘front line’ experience on both sides of the landlord and tenant relationship, in particular working with clients to manage retail, logistics and office assets (including mixed-use property).

Contributed to

2

The Renters’ Rights Act 2025—enforcement of financial penalties and investigatory powers

Practice Notes

This Practice Note sets out provisions under the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 (RRA 2025) regarding enforcing financial penalties for breach of discrimination, rent and landlord redress scheme or private rented sector database provisions. It also covers the extension of who can be liable for breaches of house in multiple occupation and selective licensing obligations and who can be served with improvement notices, local housing authorities’ duty to enforce landlord legislation, and their investigatory powers to enter premises and seize documentsFor further guidance, see Practice Note: Renters' Rights Act 2025—key provisions and The Renters’ Rights Act 2025—landlords’ duties, penalties and offences.CommencementFor guidance regarding the commencement of provisions in RRA 2025, see Practice Note: Renters' Rights Act 2025—key provisions—Commencement.Also see:•Practice Note: Renters’ Rights Act 2025—legislation tracker•Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) roadmap: Implementing the Renters’ Rights Act 2025Financial penalties for breach of discrimination, rent and redress or database provisionsRRA 2025, s 102, Sch 5, makes provision

Property Disputes

The Renters’ Rights Act 2025—landlords’ duties, penalties and offences

Practice Notes

This Practice Note sets out provisions under the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 imposing duties on landlords, contractors and other relevant persons relating to assured tenancies and financial penalties and offences for breach of those duties, and penalties for unlawful eviction or harassment of occupiers, and guidance relating to procedure, appeals and enforcement.

Property Disputes