The Government has announced that there will be a £4m cash boost to help councils tackle ‘rogue’ landlords in their area.

Twenty three councils across the country will share the funding so they can take on the landlords which force their tenants to live in squalid and dangerous properties, thus making their lives a misery.

Kris Hopkins, Housing Minister, said: “The majority of tenants are happy with their home, but the private rental market is still afflicted by too many ‘unscrupulous Scrooges’: miserly landlords who rent dangerous, dirty and overcrowded properties without a thought for the welfare of their tenants.

“That’s why we’re providing 23 councils with extra funding, so they can root out the cowboys and rogue operators in their area, and consign these scenes of Dickensian destitution to where they belong: the history books.

“We also want to raise the quality and choice of rental accommodation across the whole sector. Today’s measures will continue our progress, ensuring tenants know what level of service they can expect and, if things do go wrong, giving them the confidence to get help and take action.”

This extra funding will enable councils to enhance their ability to investigate and uncover the ‘beds in sheds’ which are a major part of the problem. So far over 500 of these illegally-rented outhouses have been discovered since 2011, with action taken against the owners. Nine councils have already received £2.6 million to tackle the problem.

These measures to tackle rogue landlords are part of an ambitious package of proposals to ensure England’s nine million private tenants:

• avoid hidden fees from unscrupulous letting agents
• can request long-term rental deals that cut costs and provide stability for their family
• feel confident to demand better standards and management of their property by landlords