An investment of £41m has been delivered to help councils tackle rogue landlords.
The funding boost will enable councils to meet the cost of their new enforcement powers through the Renters’ Rights Act, with additional funding, training and guidance being provided to help them complete their duties.
According to a Government announcement today, each council will receive an allocation of £60m in advance of the Act taking effect on May 1.
It will also involve £50m being spent on the modernisation of civil courts, with £5m funding the introduction of annual fee uplifts for the housing legal aid sector.
Included in councils’ new powers are legal duties to enforce new rules for landlords, the introduction of higher fines for landlords that are repeatedly lawbreaking, and bigger rent repayment orders for those breaching the rules.
Housing Secretary Steve Reed said: ‘We’ve been preparing councils to use their new powers on the minority of landlords who rip off their tenants and this new funding will help councils carry out their duties.
‘Stronger powers and fines will help deter wrongdoing in the first place, as we work towards a better rental system that’s fairer to tenants and good landlords.’
