CLG Committee to review local authority powers to tackle rogue landlords

The Communities and Local Government Committee has launched a probe into whether councils have tough enough powers to tackle rogue landlords.

It will also look at the role of councils in providing private rented accommodation, a growing sector in which a number of councils have sought to position themselves as reputable landlords in a field often noted for poor practice.

MPs will additionally question whether landlord licensing schemes are promoting higher quality accommodation.

Committee chair, Labour’s Clive Betts, said: ”With a big rise in the number of people renting over the last decade, there are real concerns about the ability of local authorities to protect tenants by tackling bad landlords and practices.

“Our inquiry will examine how local authorities can carry out enforcement work to deal with rogue landlords as well as looking at approaches used by councils to provide private rented accommodation in their areas.”

The committee noted that the private rented sector had grown from 1 in 10 households in 2004 to 1 in 5 by 2016, with those aged under 40 making up 70% of these households.

A committee report in 2013 recommended that the Government should review and simplify legislation covering the sector, give councils more resources to enforce the law and raise standards, improve regulation of letting agents and encourage a shift towards longer tenancies

The deadline for evidence is midday on 24 November.

Mark Smulian