The Government has announced a new £3 million fund to help councils tackle landlords who make tenants’ lives a misery. Councils will be able to bid for share of up to £3m to tackle irresponsible landlords in their area, who allow their tenants to live in unsafe and squalid conditions, putting lives at risk and disrupting local communities. Mark Prisk, Housing Minister, said: “The majority of tenants are happy with their home and the service they receive, but there are still a minority of rogue landlords who exploit vulnerable people and force their tenants to live in overcrowded and squalid conditions. “It’s unacceptable that the lives of tenants and their neighbours are made a misery in the name of profit. That’s why today I’m offering councils a share of £3 million to take on the rogue operators in their area. “They will also have the backing of a cross-government taskforce which will address the barriers councils face in tackling this issue, so together we can end the illegal exploitation of vulnerable tenants, and bring a better future to communities across the country.“ The fund will target the unscrupulous landlords who exploit vulnerable people such as illegal migrants by housing them in poor quality, overcrowded and often dangerous accommodation which can result in the following problems: noise problems sanitation issues for whole streets greater fire risk council tax and benefit fraud anti-social behaviour such as street drinking This new fund will build on the government’s ongoing success in tackling ‘beds in sheds’ which has been backed by £2.6m in government funding, with more than 500 illegally rented outbuildings and overcrowded homes already discovered since 2011with action now being taken against the owners. In order to help councils to match that success, the minister has expanded the role of the ‘beds in sheds’ taskforce to consider the best way to tackle rogue landlords.