Local councils across the UK will benefit from a £5 million Government fund, which has specifically been created to help put an end to rogue landlords, through legal action.
The money will also be used to stop landlords being intentionally uncooperative with their tenants and allowing people to live in inferior properties.
Councils that are set to receive the most benefit will be those that have a greater proportion of private rented housing in their area, but applications have to be submitted in order for them to stand a chance of being granted a share of the fund.
A growing trend for landlords to charge for ‘beds in sheds’, which are typically let to vulnerable migrants for extortionate fees, will also be targeted as part of the new move.
Brandon Lewis – the minister for housing – said that while the majority of tenants do not encounter problems with their landlords there are still too many properties that fail to adequately provide a safe environment to live in.
In a recent statement, he said: “That’s why [the Government is] inviting the worst affected councils to come forward and apply for extra funding, so they can root out the cowboys and rogue operators.
“The Government is determined to crack down on rogue landlords and this funding, alongside measures in the Housing and Planning Bill, will further strengthen councils’ powers to tackle poor quality privately rented homes in their area.”
For councils that are successful in receiving funding, they will be able to use some of the money to collaborate with legal experts, in order to prosecute rogue landlords in their areas.
They will also be able to carry out more inspections of properties, particularly for health and safety compliance checks, in addition to more random raids.