£5m scheme to tackle rogue landlords

It has written to 65 councils with the highest proportion of rental properties and problems with poor landlords to invite them to apply for a slice of the funding.

The cash is also available for local authorities that want to tackle ‘beds in sheds’  - where outbuildings are rented out to vulnerable migrants.

Councils will be able to use the cash to:

• Increase inspections of property;
• Carry out more raids;
• Initiate more enforcement action and prosecutions;
• Demolish sheds and buildings that are prohibited.

“We’re determined to keep the country building and increase the supply of good quality homes that families want, both to buy and for rent,” said communities secretary Greg Clark.

“Key to this is rooting out the minority of landlords in the private rented sector that let out poorly-maintained and unsafe properties to vulnerable tenants, making their lives a misery.”

More than 3,000 landlords have faced enforcement action and prosecution in the last two years due to council-led efforts, he added.

The Housing and Planning Bill currently going through parliament also contains measures to protect private rented sector tenants, such as penalty notices of up to £5,000 for landlords, banning orders for the most prolific offenders and a database of rogue landlords and letting agents.

The Department for Communities and Local Government has recently awarded a new contract to The Deposit Protection Service to continue providing a custodial tenancy deposit scheme from 1 April 2016.

Councils have until 2 December to submit their applications for a slice of the £5m funding.