By Richard Johnstone | 12 September 2013
Restrictions placed on councils by central government are stopping town halls from tackling rogue landlords, the Local Government Information Unit warned today.
Its House proud report, undertaken with the Electrical Safety Council, said that Whitehall rules, such as a bar on councils introducing compulsory accreditation schemes for the private-rented sector, should be lifted.
It stated the rapid increase in the number of people living in privately rented homes over the last decade meant that changes to how the sector was regulated were necessary.
According to the report, the number of households in England and Wales renting privately nearly doubled over the decade to 2011 to reach 3.6 million. Around one-third of these homes fail to meet the Decent Homes Standard, the report added.
Although local authorities are legally responsible for ensuring adequate standards in the sector, Whitehall red tape restricts their ability to do so, LGIU said. In addition to councils being unable to require landlords to be a member of accreditation scheme, they are also barred from licensing accommodation on the basis of a minimum condition by the 2004 Housing Act.
Changing these rules would allow councils to respond flexibly to the needs of their communities, LGIU chief executive Jonathan Carr-West said.
‘Whilst the majority of the private rented sector properties meet appropriate standards, a minority of landlords actively pursue criminal activity to the detriment of those living in their properties,’ he said.
‘Councils can play a key role in tackling poor standards in the private rented sector, but to do this effectively, they must be freed from central government red tape. There is no one-size-fits-all model. Rather, local authorities must be given the freedom and capacity to respond to the needs and issues in their areas.’
ESC director general Phil Buckle said the fact landlords were not required to have the electrics in their rented properties checked, or provide tenants with safety certificates, illustrated the problem.
‘We would like to see additional safety requirements for the private-rented sector at a national level [and] we wholeheartedly support empowering local councils to address the safety of housing in their areas.’
