Responding to the Government announcing funding to tackle rogue landlords, Cllr David Renard, Local Government Association housing spokesperson, said:

“Everyone deserves a safe, decent, warm and affordable place to live, this is critical to the health and wellbeing of communities. This funding will be a positive step in helping councils tackle rogue landlords. It is critical that new funding is sufficient to cover the cost of inspecting properties that are below the required standards.

“Councils do everything they can to tackle bad practice and are taking action where required to raise standards in the private rented sector.

“However, further funding and support is needed to raise standards in the private rented sector and councils could do more if they were given the right tools, such as removing the requirement for Secretary of State approval for larger selective licensing schemes.”