Liverpool City Council has been awarded over £100,000 as part of a government initiative to tackle rogue landlords.
The new funding will help the council root out irresponsible landlords who force tenants to live in filthy and hazardous accommodation.
In total, £5 million has been pledged to the nationwide scheme, with Liverpool receiving £112,500 which is almost double the £60,000 allocated to Manchester council.
The extra funds will also allow councils to carry out more raids, increase property inspections, issue more statutory notices, survey more streets and to demolish prohibited buildings.
These new funds are part of a package of proposals in the Housing and Planning Bill which include issuing banning orders for the most serious offenders; tougher fit and proper person tests for landlords of licensable properties such as houses in multiple occupation and the introduction of civil penalties.
Brandon Lewis, housing minister, says: “Many private rental tenants are happy with their home and the service they receive, but there are still rogue landlords that exploit vulnerable people and force their tenants to live in overcrowded and squalid accommodation.
“We are determined to tackle these rogues which is why we are providing 48 councils with extra funding, so they can get rid of the cowboy operators in their area and bring an end to tenants living in miserable homes in the name of profit.”
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Rogue landlords need to be rooted out, fair enough. But what about rogue tenants? Nothing is being done about them, and the damage they cause in properties can run into hundreds or thousands of pounds and they just walk away. I have had experience of this on several occasions now to the point where I am selling my properties as it is just not worth it any more. And yet despite all this it is the good landlords who are being penalised with a £400 charge and lots of admin! The so called rogue landlords will no doubt not register for this license and will go under the radar. I can see a situation where good landlords will sell their properties and there will be a dearth of properties for rent. The Council’s will have no one else to blame but themselves…